A/N: Last Chapter. Thank you for the reviews and alerts. You have been amazing.

CHAPTER 7

"Flight 405 bound for Virginia, boarding now at gate 10" the voice over the speaker shouted out at the airport.

Stefan gave a loud sigh as he gathered his bags together. It had been more than 24 hours since Elena had asked him to let her go. He'd left her apartment barely able to walk, his breathing erratic as he envisioned the rest of his life without her. Damon and Tyler had by turns called him, making sure that he was alright. He'd strove to reassure them. He was alright. After all, he was still breathing wasn't he? He could still stand. He could still walk. Of course, they didn't know that every breath had become an agony.

Or that he felt like curling up whenever he stood. Or that his footsteps had gone heavier and heavier as he walked away from her.

"Flight 405 bound for Taipei, boarding now at gate 10" the words echoed throughout the airport terminal once again. He took one last look at his surroundings before finally walking towards the boarding platform. He supposed it would be the last time he'd ever be in Washington. He knew it would be too painful to come back. No. He was never coming back here again. At least, not until he'd learned to forget her.

Flight 405 had barely lifted off when Flight 216 from Virginia started deplaning on gate 21.

Among those who got off were Caroline Forbes and Bonnie Bennet. They were greeted by a petite woman with long brown hair as soon as they got out of the gate. The three women stared at each other briefly before the brunette launched herself into Caroline's and Bonnie's arms, shoulders heaving as she struggled to contain her tears.

"I drove him away." Elena's words echoed baldly in her apartment as Caroline and Bonnie sat across from her.

"Why?" Caroline asked, wondering at the ravaged look in her friend's face.

"Because," Elena couldn't continue. Her tears, falling down her face once again.

Caroline and Bonnie didn't say anything and looked at each other. Bonnie moved to sit beside their friend and gathered the younger woman in their arms. "Shh," Bonnie whispered as she stroked Elena's hair. The blonde vampire looks on, biting her lower lip, clearly stopping herself from saying anything to worsen the situation. But alas, self-control had never been her strong suit.

"Elena, I don't want to be a bitch but you are annoying me right now."

"Caroline!" Bonnie reprimanding the blonde as the brunette cried harder.

"What? I am just saying what we both are thinking," Caroline retorted, defending herself. She sighed and moved beside the brunette. "Elena, you know I love you and you are one of my oldest and bestest friends but Stefan is like my brother and what you did to him was pretty shitty. I saw what he went through these last few months and to be honest if you were just some random girl, I would have slapped you for making him suffer. You hurt him Elena, real bad. And the worst part is that you did it again and again."

Elena raised her head off Bonnie's shoulder, her face tear-stained, looking at her two best friends. If anybody deservess the truth, it's them. "I was pregnant,"

"What?" Caroline and Bonnie both asked as they looked at the younger woman in confusion. And so Elena told them about her pregnancy two years before and how it had ended in tragedy.

"I was so overwhelmed by my grief of losing my baby, of using Stefan that I had to seek professional help. It had been a slow process. It had taken months of therapy. John had wondered why I had withdrawn so completely but I'd never been able to tell him. I returned to Mystic Falls to see Stefan again so I could put the past behind. I wasn't really planning on spending the week with him the way we did. I was just supposed to see him and tell him why I did what I did and then leave," she said in between hiccups. "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you before. We haven't been talking for a few months and I thought it would be unfair if I just dumped my problems on you when I haven't been a good friend. And even if I had called you, there is nothing you could do."

"Oh Lena," Bonnie whispered, her heart breaking for her friend. "You should have told us. It doesn't matter if we haven't talk for years, you will always be out bestest friend and nothing will ever change that."

Caroline nodded, tears welling in her eyes. "And you're wrong. I know we could not bring your baby back, but we could have held your hand and cried with you."

"Did Stefan knew…" Bonnie started to ask.

Elena nodded. "I told him everything last night."

"What did he say?" Caroline asked.

"He said he still loves me."

"Then why did you drive him away? Don't you still love him?" Caroline's face was a picture of confusion

"I," Elena whispered. "I can't."

"You can't what? He loves you! You love him!" Caroline replied, exasperated on Elena's indecisiveness.

"I'm getting married."

At a small church in Washington, a Caucasian man with slightly overgrown hair, clad in blue polo shirt and slacks looked on from a distance as a newly-married couple descended the steps. From his vantage point, he really couldn't see the couple's faces very well. He could tell though that the bride was smiling, as was the groom.

"Aren't you going to go congratulate them?" a voice came from behind him.

He didn't react. He just continued staring at the couple until they both got into the bridal car.

"Are you with the bride or the groom?" the voice persisted.

He still didn't speak.

"Well, the reception will be held at the groom's house. Do you know where it is? I could take you there if you want." The offer came helpfully.

When he still didn't speak, the person shrugged, "Suit yourself," and left him alone.

He hardly noticed. His gaze was trained on the church as the rest of the wedding party scattered to leave. When he'd seen that everyone had left, he slowly walked towards the church. He stood by the steps for several minutes before he decided to make his way inside.

He took in the flower arrangement along the pews as well as the other items that indicated that a wedding had just taken place. He started walking towards the altar but then changed his mind. He turned left instead and walked towards the side where the candle offerings were located. He fished for a coin inside his trouser pocket and lit one candle.

He had never been a religious person. But he found himself praying.

For strength.

So that he may learn to forget about her.

He had no idea how long he stood there, staring at his candle's flickering flame. It could have been seconds. It could have been minutes. It could have been hours.

Finally, he moved. He took a deep breath and started walking. He was nearly at the church's main door when he heard it.

"Stefan?"

Stefan turned around and searched for the voice's owner and saw her.

"What?" he couldn't continue. What was she doing here?

"You came." She said the words as though she couldn't quite believe he was actually in front of her.

He walked slowly towards her as though afraid she'd vanish before his very eyes. His gaze, focused on her face.

"You didn't?" he wondered aloud.

She shook her head.

"Why?" he asked, not moving.

She licked her lips in nervousness. "I…"

He couldn't help it. He reached out to touch her face.

"Shh…" he whispered just before he bent down to give her a kiss.

A gentle kiss. A healing kiss.

"Does this mean what I think it means?"

"What do you think?" she asked.

"I think that you're still in love with me."

She pushed him away indignantly. "You wish."

He laughed. "Admit it. You still love me."

"So what if I do?"

"I still love you too." He admitted.

He pulled her into his embrace and kissed the top of her head. "I thought you'd married him."

She shook her head as she too wrapped her arms around him. "I couldn't"

"Do you know what you've put me through in the last three months?" he asked as he tightened his arms around her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to his chest.

"Marry me?" he asked as he pulled away slightly so he could look at her.

She could only look at him in wonder upon hearing the words.

"Please?" he added as he saw the tears glistening in her eyes.

"Why?" she finally managed to ask. Not really knowing what it was she was asking for.

"Why?" he too asked.

"Why do you love me? I used you and hurt you so bad."

He gave a humorless laugh and closed his eyes briefly. He knew that his answer would either make or break him and he'd never felt more nervous in his entire life. He reached for her hands and laid it on the left side of his chest, just where his heart should be.

"I don't love you because you're beautiful, although you are," he began, giving her a small smile. "I don't love you because you're smart and brave and the strongest person I know. As much as I love you're fierce loyalty to your family and friends, it's not the reason why I fell for you. I love you because,"

"Stop," she choked on the word as she moved her left hand from his chest to his mouth.

But he clasped her hand and moved it off his lips as he continued anyway,

"I love you for no other reason than that you're you."

"Stefan,"

"I love you just because..." His eyes pleaded with her to believe him.

The tears she was unaware she'd been holding back suddenly fell. She felt overwhelmed.

"I just do." He said over and over again.

Until finally she whispered, "Yes."

"Yes?" he asked as his heart started beating quite heavily in his chest.

"Yes, I'll marry you."

"You will?" his words held a hint of wonder, as though quite unable to believe she had just said yes.

She removed her right from his chest and took something out of the pockets of her dress.

"Do you remember this?" she asked as she opened her palm to show him.

"You still have it?" he asked in wonder. It was the ring he gave to her seven years ago when he flew to Washington to beg her the first time.

She nodded. "Yeah. I am masochist that way. I just couldn't part with it. It's my only reminder of you. That and your checkered shirt." She replied, giving him a little smile. "Would you…" she trailed off.

With trembling fingers, Stefan reached out to pick it up gently from off her palm.

She responded by holding out her left hand, palm down.

Slowly, reverently, he slid it into her ring finger.

The first time he gave it to her, he cried and his heart broke into a million pieces.

Now, it was her turn to cry. But not for the same reason.

FIN