A/N I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING! I ONLY OWN THIS PLOT! PARTS OF THIS EPISODE ARE TAKEN FROM SEASON 3 EPISODE 20 and 21! Thanks to my beta Elena Rain!

There were many different ways Stefan saw this night ending up, but standing in the woods with the others surrounded by candles and a few flowers saying goodbye to Alaric as he prepared to die wasn't one of them. He knew this was going to shake Elena up real good, but he also knew she'd force herself to be brave for Jeremy. She'd force herself not to feel anything. He knew from personal experience what that was like. It was worse than actually feeling.

Elena walked over and stood next to him as Alaric looked at everyone and said a mental goodbye.

Stefan took Elena's hand and gave it a squeeze. She pulled her hand away. "Please don't." she whimpered softly. She didn't want to be comforted, if he comforted her she'd cry and she might never stop.

Alaric gave a fake watery smile and turned to walk back inside the small shack. Elena took a step forward to go after him but Stefan took her hand preventing her from going any further. He knew deep down neither she nor Ric wanted her to be in there.

After that everyone went their separate ways. Stefan followed Elena; he didn't know or even ask where she was going. He just followed her. To his surprise she went back to the school. She went right into Alaric's classroom and started cleaning out his closet like nothing had happen, like Alaric had just moved away instead of dead.

"We can handle this later, you know." He told her.

She didn't stop. She continued to grab the stakes from his closet and put them into a bag. "I'd rather do it now; before some janitor comes to do it and finds out he's a vampire slayer."

"Elena…hey, Elena, Please." He said slowly walking towards her.

She finally stopped. "I can't, Stefan, I just…I can't think about the fact that Jeremy and I don't have anyone to take care of us anymore, or that we've lost another friend. I just…I can't think about any of it!"

She quickly went back into the closet to get more stuff. Stefan went over to the desk. "I want you to come with me." He told her.

"I'm not done!" she said shoving more stakes into the bag.

Stefan touched her hand gently. "Hey," he said gently "Please."

She finally gave in and they locked hands. Stefan led her back to the gym.

"We were in this gym the night Klaus compelled me to turn my emotions off. I thought I hit rock bottom in the 20s but after I bit you I never wanted to feel anything again." They stopped walking and Stefan turned so he and Elena were facing each other. "But someone kept telling me it's ok to feel, no matter how much it hurt..." He used his thumb to wipe away a lone tear slipping down her cheek. "…That our emotions are what make us human, good or bad, and to never lose hope."

At an attempt to joke she asked "Who gave you that horrible advice?"

He chuckled softly. "Just this girl I'm dating."

She let out just barely a chuckle. "I don't have anyone anymore." She choked out.

Stefan gently touched her cheek. "You will ALWAYS have me." He whispered to her gently.

The strong brick walls tumbled down and Elena just started to cry. Stefan pulled her into his arms and let her cry into his shoulder. This was not the perfect night he had planned and now he wasn't sure if Elena was going to survive this or not.

Elena's body went weak against his. He gently lifted her legs and carried her out of the school.

He took her back home and brought her right up to bed. He pulled the blanket down on the bed and Elena down. He reached for her foot but Elena quickly pulled her foot away.

"Don't you want to take your shoes off?"

Elena didn't answer instead she curled her feet back behind her.

"I just want to help you be more comfortable."

Elena just shook her head.

"Elena, Sweetie, you are going to ruin the dress and be uncomfortable if you sleep in it. Come on let me help you get changed."

Elena just inhaled a shaky breath and let it out.

"Do you not want my help? Would you rather I left you alone to change?"

"No! No! You promised you'd always be there for me! Don't leave me now!" Elena cried.

"Hey, no, I didn't mean leave like that. Elena, Baby, I just mean leave the room so you can get changed."

Elena shook her head frantically. "Please don't leave me." She whimpered.

"I'll never leave you. I promise."

He climbed into the bed with her and pulled her into his chest holding her close. He just held her close all night. It took almost three hours for Elena to fall asleep that night. Stefan just sighed. When would things be good again?

The next morning Elena stirred and opened her eyes. She smiled when she saw Stefan staring at her.

"Are we going to make a habit out of this?"

"I hope so." He answered.

She chuckled and shook her head. "Ok, question, why is it when I stare at you and watch you sleep it's creepy and I'm not allowed to do it. Yet you're allowed to stare at me and it's romantic?"

He laughed. "Because I'm a 162 year old man. You are a stunningly, beautiful, 19 year old young woman. Does that answer your question?"

Elena rolled her eyes. "You don't look 162."

"It doesn't matter, I still am that age. Therefore you staring at me is creepy and me staring at you in romantic."

Elena just shook her head. "You're a dork!"

Stefan laughed. "Thank you."

Elena just giggled and sighed as she looked down at her dress. "I was hoping last night was just a nightmare."

Stefan rubbed her back.

Elena sighed once more and pulled away from him. She took the safety pin and poked her finger. Stefan took her finger and drank like it was no big deal. The small amounts were getting easier to handle these days. He kissed her finger and she giggled softly. She tried to pull her hands away but he didn't let her. He kissed the palm of her hand and she giggled once more. He moved and kissed her wrist and then the bend in her arm.

Elena giggled and soon realized what he was doing. "No fair." She giggled. "You're not supposed to make me laugh."

Stefan smiled but didn't answer he moved to her shoulder then to her neck. She giggled and giggled and pushed him away. He chuckled and kissed her lips.

Just then there was a loud CRASH! Then a loud cursing was heard.

Elena's head shot up. "Jeremy!"

She leaped off the bed and rushed toward the sound. Stefan grabbed her arm. "Stop, let me go first."

If there was trouble he didn't want her in harm's way. He took off in a flash he was standing in front of Alaric's bedroom. Jeremy was standing there with paint brush in hand and a small tray. An empty paint can lay on the floor by his foot. Elena appeared next to Stefan.

"Sorry." Jeremy mumbled.

"Jer, what are you doing?" Elena asked.

"Having a party…what does it look like I'm doing Elena!"

"Hey!" Stefan defended. "Don't talk to Elena like that. What she meant was why you are painting Ric's bedroom."

"Why not? I couldn't sleep so I figured why not?"

"It's kind of dark…"

"It's all we had. Plus, what else did you expect when we painted our dead guardian's bedroom. A bright happy and cheery yellow?"

"That's not what he meant, Jer." Elena said. "Why don't we give you a hand?"

"You can help, but if Stefan wants to help he should just leave us alone. None of this would have happen if he never came to town! Everyone we loved would still be alive!"

"Jer, mom and dad died before Stefan came into town. Plus, it's not his fault. If it's anyone's fault it's mine. I'm the doppelganger. Klaus would have come after me at some point. Don't blame this on Stefan."

"Fine, whatever. I'm out of here."

"Jer, Jeremy, Jeremy wait!"

Jeremy just left the room and Elena sighed. "I'm sorry." She said looked to the floor. "He didn't mean it."

"Yeah he did. But it's ok. I'm not hurt."

"I am." She whispered.

Stefan opened his arms. "Come here."

Elena walked into his and buried her face into his chest. Stefan hugged her tightly and kissed her head. "Why don't we finish painting the room for him? Maybe that will make him feel better?"

Elena smiled and nodded. They both grabbed a paint brush and continued to paint the walls.

After a little bit Stefan noticed Elena had stopped painting and was just staring into space. He smiled as he got an idea. "Elena?"

She looked to him but jumped startled when he threw paint at her. She shrieked and threw it back to him. They both laughed and continued to fling the paint back and forth.

After they were both covered in paint Stefan raised his brush in the air. "Truce?"

Elena giggled and nodded. "Truce."

They both set their paintbrushes down and giggled. Just then the doorbell rang. "I'll get that." Stefan smiled. Elena smiled as she left the room with him. She would never be able to understand how he could possibly make her laugh even when she was so sad and depressed. Stefan opened the door and Elena frowned. Bonnie and Damon were standing there, neither of them looked happy. Bonnie was bleeding from the neck.

"We've got a problem…" Damon said.

Elena sighed. Her happiness vanished.

They came inside and went into the kitchen to discuss what happen.

In the meantime Jeremy was in his room when his cell phone rang. He saw the caller ID and growled. He answered it. "Whoever you are you're not funny!"

"Jeremy, it's me. It's Ric. I changed my mind. I completed the transition. I'm alive."

"What but…but how…I don't understand…"

"I'll explain everything, just go into the bathroom and turn on the water. I don't want Damon or Stefan to hear this."

Jeremy did as he asked. "How are you alive?"

"That's not important. What is important is Elena right?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Now listen, I want her away from vampires just as much as you do. I have a plan on how to do that but I need your help."

"I'll do anything."

"Come to the school. I'm stuck there till nightfall but come alone. I'll discuss my plan with you then."

"I'll be there soon."

Jeremy hung up and sighed. If he was doing this to protect his sister why did he feel so awful about it? He turned on the shower so everyone believed he was in there and then sunk out of the house. He didn't know what Ric had planned but if it protected his sister he'd do anything, including kill Stefan, Damon, even Caroline.

Back in the kitchen Elena was sitting on the chair with her face buried in her hands. "What are we going to do?" she asked.

"Elena, we don't have any other choice. He has a weapon that can kill every last vampire on this earth. Including Klaus and his family." Damon said.

"So?"

"Come on, Elena don't make me say it!"

Elena just looked to him confused. Damon sighed but then looked her in the eyes. "We…have…to…kill…Ric!" he said slowly.

"NO!" Elena growled.

"Elena, did you not hear what I just said? He has the power to kill us all, Stefan included. Do you really want our death on your hands?"

"Damon, stop!" Stefan growled. He sat next to Elena and rubbed her back. "Listen, you know I'd never agree with Damon, ever. But you and I both know that Alaric we all know and love died last night."

"He was the closest thing I had to a father!" Elena choked out trying not to cry. "I can't lose him again."

"He's already gone, Baby, he's already gone. You won't be losing him a second time, he's already gone."

"It's not fair." She whimpered. She looked up at Stefan and her bottom lip trembled. "It's just not fair."

"I know, Baby, I know."

Stefan pulled her into a hug and let her cry into his chest. For once Damon was right. None of them could deny it this time. Alaric had to die. But how?

At school Jeremy finally arrived and went into Alaric's classroom. He smiled when he saw Ric standing there.

"Hey, Buddy." He greeted.

"You're alive!" Jeremy cried.

They shared a hug and pulled away. "You still have your ring on right?" Ric asked.

Jeremy nodded. "Yeah, why?"

"Good, then we won't have any problems."

Then next thing Jeremy knew his world went black.

A/N ok please don't panic I know what I'm doing. I'm planning a sequel to this story that involves Jeremy in a big way so I need to start setting up for that now. I promise though Jeremy isn't going to die. He's got his ring. Just trust me! Leave me your thoughts in a review.

For updates, sneak peeks, and sometimes cool pictures, FIND and LIKE me on facebook at "hopelessromanticgurl"