Sorry it took me a little longer than usual to update, but I have had terrible writer's block ever since Thursday's episode. It is hard to write a character when you temporarily hate her. I'm still upset with Elena, but I am trying to separate that from my writing. That being said, I will be ignoring the events of 3x14 for the purposes of my story. I already had stuff planned in my head, and it just doesn't mesh well with what happened in 3x14. I would really prefer to pretend that episode never happened anyway. No idea how it happened, but this next chapter came out really Stelena heavy. Just indulge me for this chapter, and I will get back to the Delena stuff soon, I promise. Sorry it's so short, but this is more of a transition chapter.
Apparently Stefan had received the call before Damon, because he was dressed and ready to leave before I had time to find my shoes. As I came downstairs, I noticed Stefan standing uneasily in the doorway looking at his feet. He glanced up at me and said, "Elena, the other Elena, called and told me she took Caroline back home with her for the time being. She asked if I could come over to help, but I wanted to check with you first. If you're not comfortable having me there, Elena will understand. "
"Of course Stefan, you have to come," I replied. "Caroline must be freaking out. She is really going to need a friend like you." Stefan looked taken aback by my eagerness for him to go and my confidence in his ability to help Caroline. My guilt suddenly came back with a vengeance when I registered his utter shock. I suppose I had been too hard on Stefan ever since I arrived. "Let's just say you were a great friend to Caroline the last time she went through this. She never would have survived without you," I answered to Stefan's unspoken question.
"Caroline was a vampire in your future too," Stefan asked curiously?
"Yes," I replied with tears rolling down my face. "I thought that I had prevented it, but I failed. I failed my best friend."
It's amazing how easy it is to fall back into old patterns. Stefan saw me break down, and he assumed the role he was used to playing, my loyal, caring boyfriend. May God forgive me, but I let him. He spoke in a soothing tone and told me, "you didn't fail. All this means is that you were never meant to save her. Fate can be a tricky thing to run from."
"Tell me about it. As much as things change, they still stay the same. What if the future can't be altered? What if free will is an illusion and all of us are destined to the same fate regardless of the choices we make," I asked Stefan, not really expecting him to answer?
"If that were true, the witches wouldn't have sent you back. Our choices are what define us. I have to believe that. If our destinies are decided for us, then what would be the point of living, of making decisions? Maybe we just have to accept that some things happen for a reason, even this, and if that's true, then you coming back in time happened for a reason too. I don't know what you're still keeping from me, and I don't know what our future will hold, but you should know that I believe in you. I believe that you can stop whatever darkness lies before us," Stefan promised me. He put his hand on my back as if to reassure me, and he seemed relieved when I didn't flinch away. It was a nice moment of peace between Stefan and I, and we hadn't had one in a long time, but that moment quickly passed once I saw Damon standing behind us. I couldn't tell if Damon looked more confused, jealous or hurt, but I knew that he certainly had heard the conversation between Stefan and I. I realized he was questioning whether I meant what I had said to him, or if I was going to run back to Stefan at the first sign of trouble. As if I hadn't had enough jealous vampire crap for one day.