A/N: Still here, promise.
"Ok, you really need to stop doing that."
Elena gasps, her eyes widening in surprise at the sound of his voice. His eyes had been closed, so she had just assumed he'd still been sleeping. How he even knew she was staring was beyond her. It makes her wonder just how long she had been watching him sleep, knowing he'd caught her once again doing so.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she huffs and rolls over onto her side away from him.
She can't help but smile when she feels him pull her even closer against his body just before nuzzling his face into the side of her neck, where he sweetly presses a few kisses against.
"Oh I think you do," he replies huskily, breathing close to her ear.
He's teasing her big time, and he knows it. He relishes in knowing how easily he can get to her. And out of everything he does, she thinks it's the tone of his voice that gets her going the fastest.
She doesn't even know how or even when they got here, but one morning she woke up and they were like this. Caroline claims that they've always had 'married couple' written all over them, but Elena's not so sure. Ironically enough that's exactly what they are; two people living under the same roof, sleeping in the same bed who just happen to not have sex. Ever. She tries her best to not think about it, but it's not like she can control crazy pregnant hormones. Hungry, horny, happy and hysterical all day, every day.
"Stefan, we have to get up.."
"No we don't."
"Yes, we do. We're gonna be late," she sighs and glances at the clock, "It's already eleven. We have to be there in an hour and a half."
Ignoring her, he rolls over and puts a pillow over his head.
She tries not to laugh as her draw drops and she grabs the pillow from him, "Stefan Salvatore, get up right now! Don't make me shove you outta this bed."
Pulling back the covers, he shoots up out of bed, grumbles something about her being "such a mom", and then heads into their bathroom to shower.
An hour and a forty-five minutes later they're ringing the doorbell at his parents, her carrying a pie and he a giant bag with Christmas gifts.
"I told you we were gonna be late," she teases with a smile.
"Fifteen minutes?!"
Fifteen minutes is not bad. Fifteen minutes late is like almost being on time for him. He's literally late for everything.
He's about to remind her that she was the one that was in the bathroom the longest, but his mom opens the door for them.
"Stefan, Elena! Honey, they're here!" his mom immediately wraps her arms around him and then gives Elena a big kiss.
He hears his dad in the background, "12:45. Told you he'd make it by one. Pay up, Damon."
"Did you guys seriously make bets on what time we'd get here?"
His mom just shrugs his question off and takes his bag as well as Elena's pie off their hands.
Stefan helps Elena out of her coat and hangs his and hers up on the coat rack before making a beeline for the couch with the rest of the guys in their family.
"Alright. What's the score?"
"Packers are up by five. Been pretty close though," Damon replies, "Where's preggers at?"
Stefan raises an eyebrow and looks at his brother, "In the kitchen with my mom, I think. Why?"
"No reason."
Maybe it's the connection that he feels between him and the baby currently growing inside Elena, he's growing more and more protective over the two. One thing he knows for sure, his brother is the last person he wants around them. Period. Elena for sure doesn't need to get sucked back into all that, when all it will do is stress her out and upset her. Not good for her, definitely not good for the baby.
She stops to look at some pictures in the hall when she goes to pee for what seems like the hundredth time already. The whole wall is covered with them, several of Damon and Stefan as kids, even a few with her and Stefan. He was her best friend then, he's her best friend now. He always has been and will always be the one constant in her life. The only person she can really depend on. In way she almost feels guilty for being with him. He's an amazing guy, one in a million really. And he's stuck tied down to a woman who's pregnant with his own brother's baby. He deserves so much better.
She touches a picture of her, Stefan and Damon that was taken at her birthday party. She was probably eight or nine, she's not too sure which one. She's showing off the earrings Damon had given her, wearing them proudly like the love stricken little fool she was. She's pretty sure those earrings had broken like the next week, while the necklace Stefan had given her that same day sits at home in her jewelry box.
"Even then you had such a cute little crush on me.." his voice sends shivers down her spine.
Not the good shivers it used to, but the ones that make her feel like she could crawl right out of skin to get away from him.
"Even then you were extremely delusional and narcissistic. Funny how something things never change right?"
She gives him a pointed look, before turning to walk away.
Before she can get away, he grabs her by the arm and yanks her back to him, "Why are you pretending that baby you are carrying is my brother's?"
Her eyes grow wide, her anger rising, ready to explode, "You need to keep your voice down, Damon."
She manages enough strength to jerk away from him, "Just leave it alone!"
Somehow they all miraculously get through the night unscathed. Granted everyone is nice and happy with all the food and wine they've had, excluding Elena of course. But with nothing bad happening, besides the little run-in she had earlier with the elder Salvatore, she feels like tonight was definitely a success.
They've already began cleaning everything up, a task that will no doubt take more than just a few minutes with all the torn wrapping paper and bows scattered all over the living room floor. She's not allowed to clean up with her 'state' so she's munching on a few cookies when Stefan comes up to her.
"I think we missed a gift, guys.." he starts, smiling a bit mischievously.
Everyone gathers into the living room to see what he's talking about, and that's when he hits a knee.
"Elena.."
Her eyes widen and there's a collective round of gasps heard in the room.
Ohmygod. Ohmygod. Ohmygod. Ohmygod. Ohmygod. Oh. My. God.
Suddenly she can't breathe. She can't even think.
"Elena Marie Gilbert, I've loved you all my life. You are my best friend and I want to spend the rest of my life not only being your best friend but your husband as well. Will you.. marry me?"