A/N I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING!

A couple more days went by and Elena spenT a lot more time outside. She was really beginning to enjoy being a vampire. At least she could be outside again. Stefan knew the hard part was going to be her blood control. He didn't want to put her through it but he knew it would be worse in the end if he didn't.

One afternoon Elena walked into the kitchen and saw Stefan standing there.

"Hey Stefan…what's going on…where is Jeremy?"

"Did you have your blood yet this morning?" he asked.

"Yes, this morning when Jeremy was eating breakfast, where is he. I thought we were having lunch together."

"He's with Bonnie."

"Stefan…what's going on?"

She knew by the look in his face something was wrong with him.

"Elena, Jeremy is going to be with Bonnie for a while and it's best if you don't see him."

"What?"

Stefan sighed. He sat down at the kitchen table.

"Elena, come here. Please sit."

Sighing Elena sat in the chair next to him.

"I know you may not mean to but I can see how hard you struggle every day to not hurt Jeremy. I know it's hard so until you learn to control your blood it's best if you and Jeremy stay away from each other."

"But you said that takes centuries! I can't stay away from Jeremy for that long!"

"I know, I know. I just meant until you can better control your thirst when you're around him and you don't have to try so hard to not hurt him."

"I'd never hurt him."

"I know baby but it's just to be safe. Now, it's time to work on your control. Are you ready?"

"No…but let's get it over with."

Stefan nodded. He got up and went into the fridge. He pulled out a blood bag. Elena gasped covering her mouth and nose with her hands.

"I won't come any closer to you, until you're ready. The goal is for you to be able to hold it in your hands without drinking for as long as possible."

Elena nodded but didn't remove her hands. She could still smell it and she could feel her face changing. Her throat was screaming at her to run over and grab the bag but she forced it back. She did as Stefan had said and told herself she was stronger and could fight this off.

It wasn't as easy as she thought it would be. Her throat felt like it was on fire and she knew all she needed was that blood to cool it. It was becoming too much to bare and she started having these feelings of ripping Stefan apart just to get the blood and that scared her. She knew if she opened her mouth to speak it would be worse so she whimpered.

Stefan heard and put the blood back in the fridge and took out the animal blood. He went over to the table and gave it to her. She gulped it down.

"I'm sorry. I know that wasn't long." She said softly.

"Hey, you're trying that's what mattered."

"I didn't like that feeling."

"Me neither, it's not easy but in the end it will be worth it. I promise."

Elena nodded. "Can…can we try again."

"Are you sure you're ready?"

Elena nodded.

"OK."

Stefan went back over to the fridge and grabbed the blood bag. This time Elena took a deep breath and let it out. She continued to just breathe deeply trying to think of something other than the burning in her throat. It was a good five minutes before she had to cover her mouth. She whimpered again and Stefan put it away.

"That was good. You lasted five minutes that's real good. When I first tried this I couldn't go one second without drinking the blood."

"I'm really trying."

"I know you are and I'll make you a deal, when you get to one hour Jeremy can come back and you can spend some times with him all right."

Elena nodded. "Stefan what if I….what if I accidentally kill someone?"

Stefan sighed. "I'll be waiting right here with open arms to comfort you. I'm going to try and make sure that doesn't happen."

Elena nodded. "I'm still scared Stefan. I'm still scared of who I am. I still don't like being a vampire."

"I know baby girl. It's going to take a lot of getting used to but I promise, I promise you that it will get better. Have I ever broken a promise to you?"

Elena shook her head.

"Then you can trust me. I'm going to help you. One day you're going to wake up and it will all seem natural to you."

Stefan pulled her into a hug she buried her face into his chest clinging to him. She didn't know what she was going to do if she ever lost him.

"I love you Stefan."

"I love you too Elena."

He kissed her head just hoping things got better.

"You know, I don't think it will be that much harder for you." Stefan told her.

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it, the only time you've ever had any human blood was to make the change, that's it. You've been on animal blood ever since so you have nothing to compare it too and you won't have as hard of a time getting off it because you've only ever tasted it once."

Elena looked up at him. "I don't get it."

"Look at it this way, you try a piece of chicken and you love it, it's the best thing you've ever tasted but then you get sick from the chicken and you can't eat it ever again. So you start to eat more fish instead which you find is just as good as the chicken. Because you're away from the chicken so long you forget its taste and how much you like it so it won't be so hard to not eat it anymore."

"Are you trying to say that the longer I go without the human blood and the longer I'm on the animal blood the less I will crave human blood because I haven't had any since my change?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you just say that?"

Stefan chuckled. "I have no idea."

Elena giggled. "You're confusing me with all the chicken and fish talk."

"Sorry. I was trying to give you assurance but I guess I made things worse didn't I?"

"No, it's ok. I understand what you're saying. Thank you. I hope you're right."

She buried her face back into his chest. He kissed the top of her head.

"I hope I'm right too." He muttered to himself.

It had taken a year, one full year but Elena could finally control her thirst for blood. It had been a struggle and Elena had nearly taken Stefan's head off a few times trying to get the blood from him but she finally did it. She did the hardest thing a vampire could do. But the real test was going to be going back to school.

Elena was in her room getting ready. Stefan came in.

"Are you ready?"

"I guess."

"Don't worry. Caroline, Bonnie, Jeremy, Lexi, and I will all be there helping you. I even made Alaric aware so if anything happens during class he'll help us."

"I don't want to hurt anyone."

"You won't. You've got at least ten hours without losing control of your blood control. You'll only be in school for eight. Afterwards I'll get you some animal blood to drink. You're going to be fine."

"Ok…I'm ready."

Stefan took her hand and they made their way to school.

When they got there everyone was there waiting for her.

"Don't worry Sis, everything will be ok." Jeremy said.

"Yeah, we got your back." Bonnie said.

"We will make sure you don't bite anyone's head off or anything." Caroline said. "Just remember no matter what happens, even if you do kill someone we will always love you."

Elena bit her lip feeling nervous again.

"Thanks Caroline, that's real helpful." Stefan said.

"I'm just saying. The first time I was around humans after my change I killed a guy. So I just want you to know that if that should happen today we won't hate you."

"You weren't trained to control it. Elena is. She's going to be fine." Stefan said.

Caroline shrugged. "OK, ok I'm sorry."

"Let's go inside are you ready." Stefan asked.

"No but…lets go."

Everyone went inside and a million different smells hit Elena. Sure she had been around people before but it was always just her friends, and there was only two that were human so it wasn't that hard. This was hard, there had to be at least 2 dozen humans around her and all of them smelled soooo good. NO! She couldn't think like that. She stopped walking and took a few deep breaths like Stefan had taught her. She was going to survive this day without any problems. Stefan turned to look at her. "Are you ok?"

She nodded. "Just a little overwhelming."

"If we need to leave just say the word all right?"

Elena nodded. They locked hands and made their way to class. History was first…thankfully.

"Hello class I hope you all had a wonderful summer." Alaric said walking into the room. "Let's get started with some fun facts today…shall we?"

Class went by fast and there were no problems whatsoever. Elena was happy about that. In fact most of her morning class went just fine. It was lunch when things started to take a turn for the worst.

Everyone was sitting down having some lunch laughing talking just being normal.

"I can't believe you actually got to sneak into a Bon Jovi concert!" Jeremy laughed.

"We didn't sneak in. Sneaking would mean we hid and went past the guards. We just had a very nice talk with the guards and they let us in." Stefan defended.

"In other words you compelled him?" Jeremy laughed.

"Yeah, we compelled him." Lexi laughed.

"That doesn't sound like Stefan." Caroline said.

"Well I was a little….different back then." Stefan answered.

"He was still on human blood." Lexi said.

"Oh, so human blood makes you more exciting. I understand now." Caroline teased.

"I wouldn't say exciting, more like dangerous."

Elena and Stefan shared a look.

"Well I've never seen you on human blood." Caroline told them,

"Yes you have. Remember the founders day ball, when one of us was going to be voted Miss. Mystic Falls?" Elena asked.

"Yeah I remember that."

"He was on human blood then."

"So that's why he stood you up and forced you to dance with Damon because he was out sucking someone's blood."

Stefan shivered as he remembered that day. Elena shivered too but because of the reminder of Damon. She now understood why he choose to dance with her in the first place. It was because she looked like Katherine. She shook her head to rid herself of those thoughts. Caroline gasped.

"It was Amber wasn't it? She went missing around the same time you did."

Stefan sighed. "Yes, it was Amber….let's talking about something else."

This was bringing back way too many memories of him as the ripper and that still gave him nightmares. All those people he hurt just for Klaus still haunted him.

"I have to ask, I know how I was changed, I know how Stefan and Damon were changed, I know how Katherine and Elena were changed so…what about you Lexi, how did you get changed?"

Stefan looked at Lexi as she instantly tensed up. He was the only who knew the answer to that question and he knew she wouldn't want to answer it.

"Why talk about it, it was so long ago." She answered.

"Well I'm curious." Caroline said.

"It's not exactly lunch time chit-Chat." Lexi answered.

"Come on how bad can it be?" Caroline asked.

"Just drop it Caroline, she doesn't have to tell you every detail of her life. Plus it was a long time ago, so it doesn't matter." Stefan said.

"Well I'm just trying too…"

"Ahhh my finger…" some kids shouted.

Elena gasped as the smell of blood hit her. She froze, she didn't know what to do or where to go. The burning in her throat returned only this time stronger than ever. She felt herself shaking as she forced herself not to move. She knew if she did she'd go right to the kid and attack him. Her face was starting to change and she let out a small whimper. "Help" Stefan grabbed her and rushed out of the lunch room and to the school parking lot.

"Breathe Elena, it's ok now." He said rubbing her back. He reached into his bag and grabbed the animal blood and handed it to her. "Drink this."

Elena took it and drank it.

"Are you all right?" Stefan asked.

She nodded. "Better now, thank you. I'm sorry I froze."

"It's all right, we had all let our guard down since things have been going so well. Nothing happen, that's what matters."

"Thank you for getting me out of there."

"Of course, but you handled yourself very well. You stayed in your seat, you didn't growl or even try to attack him. You just stayed calm until I could get you out. That was really good."

Elena nodded. "I don't know if I'm ready to go back inside."

"We don't have to. Not until you're ready."

Elena nodded and let out a deep breath. She had been able to resist once but what happens the next time she smells a human bleeding and Stefan isn't there to help her? Can she still resist long enough to get away?

A/N next chapter the answer to that question will be revealed. Do you guys think she will be able to resist. Read the next chapter to find out.