A/N The Vampire Diaries Settings and Characters all belong to LJ Smith and the CW. Any original characters and this story are copyright © 2011-2018 to Hopelessromanticgurl, all rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

They both slowly started to lean in until their lips touched and they started to kiss passionately. Stefan had officially gained her trust and gotten her to trust him and now…she was his girlfriend. In that moment Stefan was the happiest he had been in...well many, many, many, years.

When Stefan came back inside that night he had the BIGGEST grin on his face Lexi had ever seen.

She laughed. "I heard talking then nothing, I'm guessing you two…kissed?"

Stefan just pressed his lips together and smiled.

"Oh come on! Tell me!" Lexi begged.

Stefan smirked and started to head to his bedroom.

"STEFAN SALVATORE!"

Stefan laughed and turned back around to face her. "Sorry, Lexi, I don't kiss and tell."

"I KNEW IT! YOU DID KISS! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! Tell me everything!"

Stefan laughed and shook his head "You're not going to get it out of me, Lexi."

Lexi groaned. In a flash he was gone. "I may not be able to get it out of you but I can get it out of our journal."

She heard Stefan groan from upstairs and giggled.

The next morning Stefan arrived at school and saw Elena and Bonnie. He smiled and went over to them.

"Good Morning Elena, Good Morning, Bonnie."

He smiled nicely at them both.

"I need to go." Bonnie said and quickly walked off.

Elena sighed.

"She doesn't like me, does she?"

"She just doesn't know you. She is my best friend and looking out for me. Once she gets to know you she will love you."

Stefan tried to smile softly. Then he saw Elena's eyes light up. "I've got an idea. Are you free tonight?"

"Yes." Stefan answered instantly.

"Good, Dinner, my house, 8:00, you, me, and Bonnie, then she'll get to see how great you are. Problem solved, oh and Bring Lexi too. Maybe having another girl around with makes things better.

Stefan was going to answer when he could sense a fast flying football coming at him. Just in time he spun around and caught it instantly, surprising everyone. Not only that but he threw it back nearly knocking Tyler off his feet.

From there Elena and Stefan went inside.

"That was an amazing throw; You never told me you played football."

"I used to, I don't anymore."

"You should join the team!" Elena said excitedly.

"Uh…I'm not so sure that's a good idea." Stefan said slowly.

"So you don't like football?"

"Oh no, I love football. But…in this case I don't think football likes me. You saw Tyler, and we both know how Matt feels."

Elena removed her jacket and put it in her locker and grabbed her book for history. "They don't know you. To them you're mystery loner guy. It couldn't hurt to be part of…make some friends."

"Say the girl who spends her alone time writing in a cemetery."

"Hey!" Elena giggled with a huge smile. "Come on, there is more to me than gloomy grave yard girl. There is a whole other side of Elena you have yet to me. She was very busy and into everything"

"I look forward to meeting this girl, when will that be?"

"Soon, she's working on it."

With that she closed her locker and they went his locker than history class. Stefan corrected Mr. Tanner in front of the whole class again making Mr. Tanner hate him even more. But it was worth it because Elena was smiling and even giggling the entire time.

Once he was alone he started to text Lexi.

Elena thinks I should try out for the football team. What do you think?

I think Elena is right. You're a great football player. I think you should do it. Why wouldn't you?

Tyler and Matt are both on the team and they hate me.

Who cares? Show them how good you are. Maybe with your help they could actually win.

Stefan sighed. Maybe she was right.

During his free period he headed to the fields as he was passing he saw the cheerleaders practicing. He smiled when he saw Elena but then frowned when he saw her in the back struggling to get the moves right. She looked miserable and misplaced. He sighed knowing it would only embarrass her if he went over to comfort her right now. So he headed to the fields to try out.

After being knocked down, targeted, and one broken pinky finger, later tryouts were over and Stefan had made the team. He was so excited, after school he ran right home.

"LEXI! I DID IT! LEXI!" Stefan called writing into the house. He ran up to his room and growled. "Damon was sitting on his desk reading his diary. He ran over and grabbed the book from his hands.

"What are you doing here, Damon?" Stefan growled angrily.

Lexi came up and touched his arm. "Calm down." He told him. "What are you doing here, Damon?"

"I've come to apologize. I've been doing some thinking, some soul searching, and... I want us to start over. We need to put the past behind us. You're my little brother, and if you want to live a normal, happy human life, then I want that for you. Maybe I can do it, too. That I can learn to be a non-living living person. Maybe there's hope for both of us…" Damon couldn't help it, he burst into giggles proving he didn't mean a word of what he just said.

"You know, it doesn't have to be this way, Damon." Stefan tried carefully.

"Of course it doesn't. I saw Elena today, btw. That means "by the way." She was at cheerleading practice. She looked so perky in her little short shorts. Just... simmer down, I didn't even go near her. I've got my own cheerleader now. Ooh, that reminds me... I got to run. I have a date. Sweaty palms. Wish me luck."

Damon left and Stefan groaned burring his face into his hands. "Don't let him get to you, Stefan."

"I can't help it. I just wish he never came back."

"I know, we both do. But let's not worry about him. Tell me about tryouts, what happen?"

Stefan looked up and smiled. "Perfect, I made the team and better yet we got invited to Elena's for dinner tonight."

"Sounds like you had a really good day. Don't let Damon ruin it. Let's go get dressed and ready for Elena. Let's go enjoy ourself and live our lives, like we planned on since you came home."

Stefan smiled and nodded. "Thanks Lexi." He quickly ran into the bathroom to shower and get ready.

They were both ready quickly and headed to Elena's house. Stefan was so excited he could hardly wait.

They arrived at the door and knocked. Elena answered and smiled. "Hey."

"Hey."

"Thanks for coming, please come inside."

Lexi smiled softly, glad things didn't get awkward when Stefan walked in and she didn't.

Stefan and Elena shared a kiss as he came inside. Dinner couldn't have been more awkward. Nobody spoke and the only sound that could heard was the silverware hitting the plates. Stefan wanted to say something but he didn't know what to say. Luckily Elena broke the ice.

"Did Mr. Tanner give you a hard time today?"

"Well he let me be on the team, so I guess I did something right."

Elena smiled and nodded. "You should have seen, Stefan today." She said to Bonnie. "Tyler threw the ball…"

"I saw…" Bonnie said cutting her off.

And again awkward silence. Elena made sure to break that.

"Why don't you tell Stefan about your family?" Elena said with a smile.

"Divorced, live with my Dad." Bonnie answered.

"No," Elena muttered "About the Witches"

Stefan looked over to Elena, "Witches?"

"Bonnie's family has a lineage of witches. It's really cool." Elena told him.

Lexi and Stefan shared a look, was that the weird vibe they had been getting from this girl? Was she really a witch?

"Cool isn't the word I'd use." Bonnie muttered.

"Well, it's certainly interesting. I'm not too versed, but I do know that there's a history of Celtic druids that migrated here in the 1800s." he said trying to make her feel better. She was a Bennet that means she was related to Emily, and he owed a lot to Emily Bennet. So the least he could do was be a friend to her family.

"My family came by way of Salem." She told him a bit more proudly.

"Really? Salem witches?" he asked.

"Yeah…"

"I would say that's pretty cool." Stefan smiled.

"Really? Why?"

"Salem witches are heroic examples of individualism and nonconformity."

"Yeah, they are."

They both shared a smile and Stefan knew he had just made a new friends.

The doorbell rang and they all shared a look.

"Stefan did you order a pizza?" Elena teased.

"No, I love your cooking." Stefan laughed.

Bonnie and Elena shared a smile before Elena got up to go answer the door. Stefan listened carefully. He heard Caroline but then he heard "Hope you don't mind…" That was Damon. If he got invited in Elena would never be safe again. He shared a worried look with Lexi. She nodded her head toward the door in a non obvious way. He quickly got up and went over to the door.

"Damon, what are you doing here?" Stefan asked.

"Waiting for Elena to invite me inside." Damon smirked.

"Oh yeah you can…"

"No, no, no," Stefan said quickly. "He can't stay."

"Get in here!" Caroline demanded.

"We're just finishing up." Stefan tried again.

Elena just smiled softly. "It's fine, come on inside."

Damon stepped inside slowly almost as if to torture Stefan. He smirked at his brother and Stefan forced back a growl.

Everyone moved into the living room with drinks in their hands. Stefan told them about how he just got onto the team.

"I can't believe Mr. Tanner actually put you in the team. Tyler must be losing his mind! But who cares, good for you." She said happily.

"That's what I always tell him." Damon said with a smirk. "You can't just sit around and let life come to you, you have to go out and get it!"

"Yeah, Elena wasn't so lucky today. But it's only because you missed summer camp."

Stefan looked to Elena when he felt her tense. She quickly took a sip of her drink almost as if to hide the look of hurt and embarrassment.

"I'll work with her, she'll get it." Bonnie said nicely.

"You don't seem like the cheerleader type, Elena." Damon said.

Elena just offered a small, fake, smile, and took another sip of her drink.

"Oh it's just because her parents died, she used to be way more fun…."

Bonnie and Elena looked to her in shocked. The room went so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"I say that with complete sensitivity…" Caroline added to try and save herself.

"I'm sorry, Elena. I know what it's like. Stefan and I have seen almost everyone we care about die."

"We don't need to get into that right now, Damon." Lexi said with sharp glare. Not only would it upset, Stefan but it would upset Elena, so she had to try and stop it.

"Lexi, is right, Damon. Now is not the time or place." Stefan agreed. He could feel how tense Elena was, and could see the look at her face; she was close to breaking down.

"It's ok, I'm fine. Um...does anyone need a refill? I'm going to get a refill." Elena quickly got up and left the room. Stefan sent Damon a glare. Damon just smirked at him.

He heard the sink turn on and sighed. Now he couldn't hear anything. He looked to Lexi, she had trained herself to hear past the water and she could hear Elena crying. She again nodded her head toward the kitchen for Stefan to go after her.

"Excuse, I'm going to use the restroom." Stefan said nicely.

He got up and left toward the bathroom but made a small turn into the kitchen. Elena was standing over the sink just watching the water run down. He heard small sniffles and knew she was crying.

He slowly went over to her and touched her back. "Would you like to be left alone?"

She shook her head and quickly looked up, wiping her eyes. "I'm fine, just washing out my cup, less to do later."

"Elena, you don't have to hide from me, remember? Tell me the truth."

"There is nothing to say, Stefan. Did what Caroline said hurt, yes, of course. But it doesn't matter because sometimes the truth hurts."

"I don't think that's the truth. You're still fun now. Tonight has been plenty of fun."

"You really think so?" Elena asked.

"I do."

Elena smiled and they shared a kiss on the lips. Then Elena moved into his arms and he held her close. He rubbed her back and gave her the comfort she really did need in that moment. He kissed the top of her head. "I'm here, whenever you need me."

"Are you sure, you're having fun and you're not just saying that to make me feel better?"

"I'd tell you if I wasn't having fun. Plus, Elena, you've got to remember, it may be four months, but you're still suffering and still grieving. None of them have lost a parent before so they can't understand how much it changes you. When it comes to losing a loved one four months is not a very long time at all. It still feels like it happen yesterday."

"You're the only person who seems to understand that." She whimpered clinging to him tighter.

"I was the same way when my mom died. I didn't go play with any of my friends. I didn't leave my room, none the less my house. So if you're not as active or busy or even cheery as you were before that's acceptable. Your parents died with you in the back seat, it changes you. So don't let Caroline or Damon, or anyone else for that matter make you feel like you need to hurry up and "get better" you take as long as you need to, to grief. Also, don't let anyone tell you, that you'll get over this. Because I'm telling you this right now you will never "get over" this. But you learn to deal with it in time and find a way to move on."

She nodded against him and felt herself relaxing and calming down. "Thank you, Stefan."

"Anytime." Stefan answered.

Elena inhaled and exhaled a shaky breath.

"Shhh, I'm right here. You're ok. I'm right here." He cooed rubbing her back.

"Excuse me, I hate to interrupt. Elena, are you all right?" Damon asked walking into the room.

Elena quickly pulled away and looked to Damon with a fake smile. "Yes, I'm fine, just washing my glass. Can I help you with something?"

"We're all finished with our drinks. Shall I help you clean up?"

"That's ok, I got it, you go enjoy yourself." Elena said nicely.

"What about from us?" Bonnie asked as she and Caroline walked in.

"Elena, I'm so sorry. I'm such a idiot. I didn't mean it!" Caroline ran at Elena hugging her tightly.

"Ok…Car…oline…can't….breathe!" Elena choked out.

Caroline let go and gave her a guilty look. Elena smiled fakely. "It's ok, Caroline. I'm fine."

"Stefan, Damon, you two go back out and hang with Lexi, the girls and I will take care of the dishes." Elena said with a polite smile.

Damon left without question. Stefan looked to Elena and mouthed to her "You ok?"

She smiled softly and nodded. "Thank you." She mouthed back to him.

They shared a gentle kiss and Stefan went back into the living room.

As he entered he saw Lexi and Damon arguing as usual.

"What are you two fighting over this time?"

"Damon has a new girl, so you can guess what that means." Lexi explained.

Stefan groaned. "Caroline? Really, Damon!"

"Save me the lecture, Stef, your little buddy here already gave it to me." Damon said.

"Maybe you need another one. Maybe this time you'll actually listen to us!"

"Like that will ever happen." Damon laughed.

"You had your fun here tonight, Damon. Now it's time for your to go home." Lexi said sternly.

"Ok, that's fine. But just remember I've been invited in so I can come back whenever I want and do whatever I want to whoever I want." Damon smirked and then left after that.

Stefan sighed and covered his face with his hands. Damon was right. Elena invited him inside. Now she was in even more danger, how was he going to protect her?

The rest of the evening was un-eventful. But Bonnie had accepted Stefan now so that's what mattered most.

When Stefan and Lexi got home Stefan was pacing around him room.

"What am I going to do, Lexi? Damon's been invited in! He's been invited into Elena's house!"

"Yes, Stefan, I understand that. Please will you calm down? You know what you have to do."

"What?"

"The necklace? Give it to her; it will protect her as much as she can be protected."

Stefan sighed and nodded. "What if she thinks it's too soon for gifts?"

"Stefan, she's a girl, we love to jewelry at random moments."

Stefan went over and grabbed a brown treasure looking box and opened in. Inside was a tiny box with small tiny holes on top. He sighed and nodded. "It's the only way to keep her safe. I have to give this to her."

Lexi nodded. "It's either that or tell her the truth and I know you don't want to do that."

Stefan shook his head. "No, you're right. This is the only way. I'll give it to her tomorrow."

Lexi smiled and nodded.

Stefan just looked to the necklace hoping he was making the right choice.

The next day was the big game so he wore his jersey. He saw Elena and smiled at her.

"You look hot in your jersey." She smiled as they shared a kiss hello.

"What about you? No cheerleader today?" he asked seeing her in regular clothes.

"I quit, I'm a quitter."

"No, Hey, listen, you're not a quitter. You suffered a terrible loss you're the not the same person. You should be looking ahead and starting a new." He told her.

She smiled and nodded agreeing with him.

"Now, I hope you don't think this is too soon but I um…I wanted you to have this." He pulled the small wooden box out of his pocket to reveal the small rose looking necklace.

"Its' Beautiful." Elena gasped.

"I've had it forever and I've never wanted to give it to anyone until now. It was um…it belonged to my mom. She left it to me when she died."

"Stefan I can't take this, it was a gift from your mother…."

"Yeah, and she said to make sure I gave it to the right girl. You're the right girl." He smiled.

Elena nodded and smiled. He put it on for her and kissed her shoulder. "I also wanted to thank you for pushing me to join the team. It feels good."

Elena giggled. "We're quite the pair. I quit you start."

"No, hey…"

She just giggled softly.

"We're a working progress, we will figure it out." He told her.

They shared a smile and leaned in to share a passionate kiss. The Stefan ran off to join his teammates and prepare for the game.

Lexi showed up and little later on that evening and hung out with Elena. Mr. Tanner was giving his big, epic speech all about him, how good he was making everyone around him angry. Tyler stalked off somewhere and a few moments later a fight had broken out and he ran to stop it.

Jeremy came after him with a broken beer bottle and cut his hand, but luckily he healed up quickly.

"Your hand!" Elena cried as she rushed over to him. "Is it deep, how bad is it?" she asked.

"I'm fine, I'm fine, it wasn't my blood. Jeremy missed, I'm fine." Stefan said showing her his hand.

"But..but I saw…"

"It was close but it missed. I'm fine. I promise. Look, it's almost kick off time. I need to get going. I'll see you after the game ok?"

Elena just looked at him hesitantly. "But your hand, I saw it…"

"Don't worry, he's fine. Jeremy missed his hand by a few inches. I promise." Lexi said as she came over. "Trust me, Stefan is going to be just fine."

Elena looked to Stefan who nodded. "Listen to Lexi, she normally right about 99% of the time."

Elena chuckled softly and nodded. "Ok, go I'll meet you after."

Stefan kissed her forehead. Then he looked to Lexi. "Take care of my girl, Lexi."

"I will."

Stefan rushed off.

Elena smiled softly. "Thanks. I'm going to put some stuff in my car, I'll be right back."

Lexi nodded. Elena walked off. Lexi stayed close enough to keep an eye on her but far enough away that Elena still have her feeling of privacy.

She was on red alert when she saw Damon go over to her. Elena was holding her own pretty good so she kept her distance. Then Damon leaned in to kiss her and Elena slapped him across the face causing Lexi to giggle and mentally cheer for her.

Elena walked away and Lexi went over to her. "Are you all right?"

"He's so disgusting. I'm with his brother, and he know that and he still tries to kiss me!"

"That's just Damon, don't let him get to you."

Elena sighed. "Why does he hate his brother so much? What has Stefan ever done to him?"

"It's a long story; Stefan needs to be the one to tell it. Just trust me. Damon is a jerk, just try not to let him get to you, all right?"

Elena nodded and smiled softly. "Thanks."

"By the way, nice slap."

Elena laughed. "Did you like that?"

"Love it! He so deserved it!"

Both girls laughed together.

Suddenly Stefan came running over to them. "Lexi, Elena, are you two ok?"

"We're fine." Elena giggled. "Why, what's wrong?"

"You're sure you're ok?" Stefan asked once more.

"Yes, Stefan, we're perfectly ok. What's wrong you look like you've seen a ghost." Elena said now getting worried.

"There was another animal attack, it went after Mr. Tanner. He's… he's…he's dead." Stefan stuttered out.

Elena gasped. She didn't like Mr. Tanner…nobody really liked Mr. Tanner but he didn't deserve to die so brutally as an animal attack. "It just came out and attack him?" Elena asked.

Stefan nodded. "I guess that's what I heard."

Lexi looked to Stefan and mouth "Damon?"

He nodded softly and looked to Elena she was shaking.

"Our game was canceled so let me take you home." He said to her gently.

"What kind of animal is doing this?" she asked, her voice shaking. "Why would it come out of the woods and attack someone in the middle of town?"

"I don't know, I didn't see anything. I just heard about it." Stefan sighed

"Are you sure? What about your hand, are you sure you didn't get cut?"

"I'm fine, we're fine ok? That's what matters."

He pulled her shaking body into his arms holding her close and protected. Why couldn't he just have a normal relationship with this girl? Why did he brother have to go mess everything up? When would things go back to being normal again. But most importantly, how much longer could he hide this secret before Elena discovers the truth about him?

A/N What do you think? Leave me your thoughts in a review.

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