A/N: This was hard to write, but it needed to be written. Please let me know what you think : ) Thank you for the reviews last update. It is clear to me that Derrick is evil and Elena needs to come home. I love your enthusiasm and investment for this story. You guys seriously rock.
It didn't matter how many times they told Katherine that she needed to wait at the front before she could go back to see Lily. Hell, it didn't even matter how many people tried to stop her as she ran back there anyways. She dodged every single one of the officers. As she checked every window to every room, she nearly fell to the ground in tears when she saw Lily sitting at an over-sized table in a small room, coloring.
Lily looked up from the piece of paper she was coloring on and gave her mom a great big smile before scooting off of her chair and going to open the door. Katherine was almost paralyzed until Lily demanded she be picked up. "Baby" Katherine cried, hugging her so tight that even Lily began to protest.
"Did you miss me?" Lily asked, prying her face away from her mother's deadly grip.
Katherine didn't bother to hide her tears. She tucked Lily's dirty, messy hair behind her ears and forced herself to smile. "I missed you more than anything" she told her. "I was so worried about you."
"Don't worry Mommy, Elena took good care of me" she told Katherine. Katherine's face fell at the mention of Elena, who, she guessed, was not at the police station with Lily. "But the mean man still has her Mommy" Lily said, frowning.
"It's okay Baby. You're safe now" Katherine said, rocking her gently. Every horrible thing that could have happened to Lily was running through Katherine's mind. She kissed Lily about a hundred times before Lily again protested.
Stefan had been a little easier to detain, for the time being. He was more distracted than Katherine had been. When the police had called, they stated they had Lily. There was no mention of Elena. So when he finally made his way to the back and found Lily and Katherine alone, his heart sank into his stomach. Elena wasn't there.
"Uncle Stefan!" Lily squealed, squirming out of her mother's arms and making a full run for him.
Stefan grabbed her and hugged her so tight, saying silent prayers that she was safe. "I'm so glad to see you, sweetheart" Stefan whispered into her ear, holding back his tears. He looked ahead and saw what a mess Katherine was. "Lily, where's Elena?" he asked, not being able to resist asking.
Lily pulled away from Stefan and frowned. "The mean man still has her" she said sadly. Stefan nodded, kissing her and letting her know that it was okay to tell him. He watched as Lily reached down into her pocket, pulling something out. "She wanted me to give this to you" Lily said, holding out Elena's wedding ring for him to see. "She says you got to hold on to it for her until she comes back." As much as Stefan wanted to be strong for Lily, he couldn't. Not anymore. Not knowing that the love of his life was still with the man she feared most. Not knowing if she was okay.
Stefan took the ring from Lily's small hand, his fingers shaking the entire time. He stared at the ring for a minute as the moment he had given the ring to Elena flashed through his mind. "Thank you" he whispered, smiling at Lily as best as he could through his tears. His hand enclosed around Elena's ring as he finally broke down completely, burying his face into Lily as he cried. He wanted Elena. He wanted her with him so he knew she was safe.
Lily grabbed his face finally with both of her little hands and got her face as close to him as possible. "Don't cry Uncle Stefan" Lily said softly. "Elena said to be brave. She said she's gonna be okay until you go and find her" Lily told him.
Stefan nodded, pressing his lips against her forehead. "I'm gonna find her" he promised Lily.
Katherine approached, placing her hand on Lily's back. "You gots to hurry though Uncle Stefan" Lily told him. "He's a mean man. He hit her Uncle Stefan. Your not supposed to hit a girl but he hit her" Lily said angrily.
Anger flashed through Stefan's eyes. Derrick was going to die a death ten times more painful than the one Stefan had already planned for him. "Did he hurt you?" Katherine asked, rubbing Lily's back in a soothing manner.
Lily shook her head. "No. He tried to but Elena wouldn't let him" she said, looking back at her mom briefly. Then she turned back to look at Stefan. "So the mean man hit her instead" she told him.
The lines in Stefan's face became more defined as the anger inside of him turned up another notch. "Mrs. Salvatore. May we speak with you?" an officer said from behind them. Stefan nodded, letting Katherine know that he had Lily.
"I'll be right back Baby" Katherine said, kissing her hand.
"Okay Mommy but will you bring me back Peanut Butter Cups?" she asked.
Katherine smiled, still overwhelmed. "Yes, I will find you some" she assured her, giving Stefan one more look before following the officer.
"I got something else for you" Lily whispered, reaching down into her shoe. "Aunt Elena said only you get to see this" she added, pulling out the folded piece of paper and handing it to him. Stefan took the note from Lily with his shaky fingers.
"Thank you" he told her.
"I told Elena about the monkeys at the zoo. You know, the ones in the gift shop with the hands and feet that stick together" she reminded him, clapping her hands together for added effect. Stefan nodded. He always, always bought her one of those monkeys. Sometimes two if she couldn't decide which one she wanted. "She wants one too. And she promised me she was gonna buy me an ice cream at the zoo too" she added.
"We'll make sure Elena gets a monkey" Stefan said, a small smile forming at his niece's adorableness while his heart still clenched in pain. Because right then in that moment, he wanted to take Elena to the zoo more than anything. Stefan's phone began buzzing in his pocket and Stefan shifted Lily to one arm as he searched for his phone. When he took it out and saw that it was Damon, he groaned inwardly. "Hi Damon" he said, then pulled his phone away from his ear as Damon let out a string of not so nice words in his native Italian.
A minute later, when Damon sounded out of breath, Damon addressed his brother. "Katherine just called. I will deal with you when I see you" he said angrily.
"Here" Stefan said, handing is phone to Lily.
Lily smiled brightly as she grabbed her uncle's phone. She loved talking on the phone. "Hi Daddy!" she said excitedly into the phone.
"Lily?" Damon asked, his heart skipping dramatically when he heard her cheerful voice on the other end of Stefan's phone. "Are you okay?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm.
"Yep I am" she told him. "Are you coming to see me?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm getting ready to leave right now" he promised her. "You stay with your mom and Uncle Stefan until I get there okay?" he told her.
"Okay Daddy I will" she promised. "Can you bring me cookies?" she asked.
Damon smiled on his end of the phone as he closed his eyes. His perfect, sweet, innocent child. She had just been through a horrible experience and she was being a trooper. "Yeah, Baby. I'll bring you cookies" he told her. "I love you and I will be there soon. Give your uncle back the phone."
"Okay I love you Daddy. Bye bye" she said, handing Stefan back the phone. "Don't take too long Uncle Stefan. I want to play Angry Birds" she told him.
"You hear that?" Stefan asked. "Your daughter wants to play Angry Birds, so I have to go" he stated.
"I'll see you in an hour" Damon said irritated before hanging up.
Stefan handed Lily his phone again and she went to work on finding the game. Then, she continued where she left off with her high score. Stefan sat down, Lily in his lap as she played. Katherine was gone another ten minutes before she made her way back to Stefan and Lily. "Damon's not happy" Katherine said, sitting next to them.
"He'll survive" Stefan told her. "He'll be here in an hour" he added. Katherine nodded, not looking forward to seeing him knowing he would be upset. "Hey, sit with your mom for a minute. I need to go outside and get some fresh air" he said, placing Lily in Katherine's lap as he stood. Lily was too invested in her game to notice she had moved. Katherine wrapped her arms around Lily as she watched Stefan leave.
Stefan found a bench outside and sat down, taking his note from Elena out. He stared at it for a moment, deciding whether he wanted to read it then or not. But, he decided he needed to. He slowly unfolded it.
Stefan,
I don't have a lot of time to write this, but I needed to tell you that I am okay. Please, just make sure Lily is taken care of and safe before you begin to worry about me.
Stefan tore his eyes away from the note as his tears began to fall from his eyes once again. Damn her. Always thinking about others and never about herself. If there was one thing he could say was her fault, that would be it. Stefan quickly wiped at his eyes, removing the rest of the tears so he could continue reading.
Derrick told me he was taking me to West Virginia. I know he probably only told me this because he knew I would tell Lily and it would get back to you. I think he will take me the opposite direction, toward Georgia. I know he had family near Savannah at one point, so he may have a house down there for us. I also don't know if he will keep the same vehicle, but it is a black 1999 Chevy Blazer, license plate # 5HKW812. I hope this information gives you something to go on.
Stefan again pulled the letter away, but he felt relieved this time. She had a lot of hope that he was going to come and find her.
Finally, I hope you understand why I did what I did. And if I had to do it again, I would change nothing. I did what I had to do for our family.
I love you, Stefan. I love you so much. I will be okay. I promise.
Elena
Stefan quickly folded up the piece of paper and wiped at fresh tears. He wanted Elena and he wanted her now. The thought of Derrick hitting her was almost enough to cause him to rip the bench from the ground and throw it across the parking lot. Stefan had promised her that the life she had had with Derrick was over, and yet her she was, stuck with Derrick once again.
Stefan tried to shake the anger that was still built up inside of him. He had to inform the police of Elena's note and prepare to make the long drive to Georgia.
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Stefan held Lily as Damon came into the police station. He had no idea how his brother was going to react and he needed Lily as a buffer just in case. Katherine avoided Damon's eyes as he ran towards them. "Lily" he said, his voice full of relief as Lily got off of Stefan and ran towards her dad. Damon picked her up and held her close. "Are you okay?" he asked, checking her from head to foot to make sure she was.
"I'm all good Daddy" Lily assured him. "Did you bring me cookies?" she asked. She still had chocolate on her lips from the candy Katherine had given her.
"I did" he smiled, kissing her four times. "I'm taking you to lunch first and then you can have the cookies" he informed her.
Lily shook her head no. "Cookies first!" she demanded.
"Listen to your dad" came Stefan's voice from behind them.
Damon glared at him before walking towards Katherine. "Watch her. My brother and I are going to have a little chat" he said, informing them both. Katherine grabbed Lily and gave her a mint from her purse, distracting Lily for the time being.
Stefan silently followed Damon outside and barely made it out the front door before Damon had Stefan shoved up against the wall. "What the hell were you thinking dragging my wife with you on this little rescue mission of yours, huh?" he asked angrily. "It was stupid and dangerous and reckless" he hissed.
Stefan shoved Damon off of him easily. "I got your daughter back. That's what I did!" Stefan yelled at him. "Meanwhile, my wife is still with that psychopath who hit her in front of Lily!" he added, just as angrily. Damon looked utterly repulsed by what Stefan had just told him. "So excuse me for trying to get shit done, Damon. I'm sorry I can't just sit around and wait for other people to save my family."
Damon glared at his brother again. "The police are doing their jobs, Stefan" Damon told him. "So you're going to come back home with us and keep yourself out of harm's way. The last thing Elena needs is for you to get hurt" he reminded Stefan. God only knew what Derrick would do if he saw Stefan.
"I'm not going home. I'm going to Savannah to save my wife" Stefan informed him. "You take your family home" he added, leaving his brother where he was, confused, as he went to his car. He was going to get Elena. Whether or not she was in Georgia, he was going to find her. And get rid of Derrick once and for all.
Stefan had barely made it to his car before he heard a shrilling cry that could have only come from his niece. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned around to see Lily running across the parking lot, her arms out in front of her. "Uncle Stefan!" Lily cried out again, wrapping her arms around his leg. "Don't leave me" she said, her crocodile tears taking over.
Stefan peeled her off of his leg and picked her up. He held her close, kissing the side of her head repeatedly as he whispered soothing words into her ear. "I need to leave, Lily. I have to go and find Elena" he reminded her.
Lily sniffled. "How long will you be gone?" she asked.
"As long as I have to be and not a minute longer" he promised. "I need you to do something for me" he told her. Lily nodded. "I need you to make Elena a picture so she has a present when she gets home" he told her.
Lily nodded again. "I can make her the best picture she has ever seen" Lily assured him.
"Good" Stefan said, kissing her one last time before walking her back to her awaiting parents. "Listen to your mom and dad" he said, handing Lily back to Damon.
"Be careful" Lily whispered, kissing his forehead like he did to her so many times. "I love you."
"I love you too" he told her, reciprocating her kiss. Stefan turned and walked away again. He could hear Lily talking to her parents as he left. As much as he had missed her and wanted to spend every minute with her, Elena needed him. He needed Elena.
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Elena sat quietly in the passenger seat as she watched a sign for Savannah Georgia pass by. Elena had been right. Derrick wasn't taking her to West Virginia. "I thought we were going to West Virginia" Elena mentioned as she continued to look out the window.
Derrick smiled at her. "You think I'm an idiot?" Derrick asked her. Elena didn't answer, but yes, she did think he was. "I figure you told that little brat, what was her name, Lindsey?" he asked. "That I was taking you to West Virginia. But no, Baby. We're going to Savannah" he informed her.
Elena let herself smile, though she didn't show him. Stefan was headed right for there. She was sure that he would listen to what she said in her note. "Can we stop to use the bathroom?" she asked.
Derrick checked his watch. "Fine. We'll grab lunch too" he replied. Elena noticed that he was much less friendly since dropping Lily off. He was nervous almost and Elena wondered why. He was usually so confident.
Derrick pulled off the highway and into some diner parking lot about half an hour later. The diner was small and aside from the few older gentlemen sitting at the counter, it was deserted. Elena went straight to the bathroom.
When Elena came out, Derrick was sitting at the counter with a cup of coffee and waiting for their food. Elena sat next to him and the waiter smiled at her from behind the counter. "Can I get you anything?" he asked politely.
Elena smiled back, enjoying the first pleasant interaction she had had in a few days. "Can I get an iced tea please?" she asked.
"To go" Derrick said, the irritancy evident in his voice.
"Coming right up" the young man said, ignoring Derrick's tone and smiling at Elena once again.
"Do you have to flirt with every guy you see?" Derrick asked angrily as he shot a warning glance over at Elena.
"I was just being polite" Elena told him. Elena felt his hand on her leg, gripping it tightly. "You're hurting me" Elena said quietly quietly with her own warning tone.
"Then stop being a whore" he shot at her. He let her go and Elena rubbed her leg, wondering what the mark would look like.
When they got back outside, Derrick looked around before shoving Elena into the side of the vehicle, causing her to drop her drink and cry out slightly when she felt her head hit to door. "Don't ever, EVER let me catch you flirting with another man, do you understand me?" he asked, pushing Elena harder into the door as he looked into her terrified eyes. "Do you understand me?" he repeated, slamming her into the truck once again.
"Yes" Elena nodded, her voice shaking as she felt the first trickle of blood roll down her temple.
Derrick's hateful glare pierced her eyes one last time before he let her go. "Get in the car" he ordered, leaving her and walking to the driver's side to get in. Elena did get in, though her shaking fingers fumbled with the handle on the door. She remained quiet as Derrick pulled out of the parking lot, feeling herself falling closer and closer to the withdrawn, submissive state she used to be in when she was with Derrick before. Because it kept her alive.
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Eight hours. Stefan had been driving for eight hours after having gotten little sleep in the hotel with Katherine the previous night. But Elena invaded his every thought and this kept him driving. It was dark by the time Stefan arrived, so he found a hotel. He was in constant contact with a guy he had hired who was trying to track Derrick's vehicle. Stefan had no idea how he was going to find Elena otherwise, but he knew he would. He would start at one end of Savannah and check every inch of the city until he reached the other end. He would check the surrounding areas too. He would search for as long as it took.
"Hold on, Elena. Hold on" he whispered as he lay in the uncomfortable bed that night. He was planning on getting up at six the next morning and starting his search. As he lay in bed, his mind was flooded of memories of her, and he was okay with that. It would put him to sleep, and give him the encouragement he needed right now. He sighed, closing his eyes and trying to get to sleep. He knew that Elena would be nagging him to sleep if she were there with him.
"Go to sleep" Elena had told him, grabbing his book and taking it from him. "You have an important meeting tomorrow" she reminded, brushing his messy hair out of his eyes. He needed a haircut. She reached over and kissed his cheek, but he had other ideas.
He always did. "I know what would help me sleep" he whispered as he pulled her on top of him, kissing her the way he wanted her to be kissed. Passionately and with need. His hands ran across her back, pulling her closer.
Elena kissed him back, finding it hard to say no to him when he was so persuasive. But she was not engaging in the activity he was proposing. She peeled her lips away from his finally when he tried taking her shirt off. "Not tonight. You need to go to sleep. Now" she told him. His long, drawn out whine did nothing to change her mind. "Tomorrow, when you get home. I promise" she said, placing her hand on his chest. He sighed and then proceeded to pout. Elena now knew where Lily got it from. "Lily has your same cute pout" she smiled, tracing her finger along his pouting lips before climbing off of him and going back to her side of the bed. She turned the light off and Stefan rolled away from her. Elena laughed as she moved to his side of the bed and wrapped her arms around him, pulling his back against her. "I love you" she whispered, kissing his shoulder.
Stefan sighed, because the longest he could ever stand to ignore her was about 30 seconds. He turned around and faced her. "Tomorrow. You. Me. Naked" he reminded her. Elena nodded, accepting his kiss goodnight. He wrapped her in his arms, both naturally finding that mold they had created where her head was tucked in between his neck and shoulder and her one leg rested in between both of his. They ended up like that every night.
And Stefan never wanted that to change, because lying in bed alone in that hotel, he had never felt so lonely. So broken.
A/N: Stefan is getting closer … I wonder how this will all play out. See you next update!