Chapter Four:

Stefan wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and, sighing, lay the rabbit's body down on the ground. If he was going to be in a place filled with warm blooded humans, he should be prepared. If he did end up not able to resist, he would make sure he drew the line before he was even close to being a danger to anyone. And he needed to make sure he was powerful enough to compel her to forget later.

Trudging through the forest in the light of the morning, Stefan tried very hard to not think about Elena, and what she'd say about the whole concept of the nightclub. He'd have to think of something to tell her... Maybe Damon would have a convincing idea?

Then again, being Damon, maybe not.

Stefan did like the thought of having some fun with his brother still. Although they were now living peacefully (As peaceful as it could get with his brother) together, he knew that it wasn't long before he and Elena arranged a date for their wedding, and he would no longer live with Damon. At least, not by himself with Damon as they had still not found an appartment, and Damon had very kindly offered the Boarding House to them as a gift. Elena had been quite pleased with the idea until Stefan's suspicions were proved right; Damon came with it.

Elena had thereafter searched for a place countless of times, but it seemed like Mystic Falls wasn't going to be losing any of its inhabitants any time soon, and she was becoming less forceful.

Stefan suspected she still hadn't completely forgiven Damon for the whole Italy fiasco, no matter how many times Stefan had tried to persuade her that it wasn't Damon's fault; he was trying to do the right thing.

It didn't help that Damon couldn't be nice around her, just a little while. Although he did tolerate her better.

"There you are!" Glancing upward at the familiar voice, Stefan saw the Boarding House looming in front of him before he was flung upon by his fiance.

Taking in her familiar scent of strawberry soap and spearmint, and her underlying smell of blood, he stroked her hair and kissed her tenderly.

"What's up, little love?" he murmured.

Elena pulled back a little and laced her fingers through his. "I was wondering if you'd like to go to look at rings tonight in the city?" She had an expectant look like she thought she knew his answer already.

Time for some quick good thinking. "Oh. Um...Sorry, I can't; not tonight love." Very good...

Elena's gaze turned suspicious. "Why not?"

Stefan was close to panicking. Maybe he should just tell her the truth and hope for the best?

"Well -"

"He's staying with me tonight." Stefan quickly turned and saw Damon standing at the doorway.

Elena also turned, and glared at him. "And what will you two be doing?" She never did trust Damon...

Stefan frantically tried to communicate with Damon with his eyes that telling Elena exactly what they'll be doing was not a great idea. Damon, as usual, ignored him. "Oh possessive much? You know, 2 in 3 marriages don't end well, especially if one of the couple turns into a control freak." His tone turned cold. "And I do not appreciate you following my unfortunate brother everywhere he goes, probably even when he -"

"Okay, it's okay Damon -" Stefan cut in but was also interrupted.

"I do not follow him around everywhere, you -"

Stefan tried to sooth her "No you don't Elena, I know -"

Damon looked furious "So why are you insisting to know what he'll be doing with me? It's like you don't trust me -"

Stefan turned to him. "She does trust you Damon, but -"

Elena was seething "Of course I don't trust you, after everything you did -"

"It wasn't his fault Elena, I -"

"Stefan, shut up!" Even though it was Damon who'd said it, they were both glaring at him.

Stefan took a step back, glancing between the two. If the situation hadn't been serious, both of them having the same feeling about something (even if it was against himself), was one step forward.

"Okay." Turning to Elena, he said "I'll see you tomorrow" and not looking at her expression, he muttered "I'm sure I can trust you to not kill each other". Brushing past Damon - who could still change his death glare into a brief smirk - he went inside.

As soon as he shut the door, the voices rose again.

Two steps back.