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.

The next morning Stefan woke up feeling very…happy. Which wasn't normal for him.

"Good Morning, wonderful people." He said to Lexi and Zac in the kitchen.

"What's gotten into you?" Lexi laughed.

"Isn't it a beautiful day outside?" Stefan smiled.

"It's all right, have you been drinking human blood?" Zac asked.

Stefan chuckled. "Nope, can't a guy just be happy."

Lexi smiled. "This is about, Damon being locked up and you being free to live your life with Elena."

Stefan smirked and nodded. "Yep. Now I'm off to school."

"Are you going to tell her the truth?" Lexi asked.

Stefan sighed. "I'm thinking about it. If I'm ever going to gain her trust, I need to be honest."

"Honesty is always the best answer, Stefan. Remember that."

He nodded. "Should I even be going, what about Damon?"

"Stefan, I'm stronger than him on a good day. He's weakened by the vervain, it's not even a fair fight. Don't worry. I'll take care of Damon. You go to school. If you go too long without speaking to Elena you'll lose her."

Stefan nodded and smiled. "You're right. I'll be home later."

With a big grin Stefan left the house.

"You know this can only end in disaster." Zac said to Lexi.

"Maybe, maybe not. But we will wait and see what happens. I'm trying to do what's best for Stefan. Maybe it's time you did the same." With that Lexi walked off.

Stefan arrived at school and went over to Elena. "Hey."

"Hi…"

"Look, about last night. I'm sorry. I want you to know, I did handle Damon. He's locked up and can't hurt Caroline anymore. But that's all I can say."

Elena sighed. "You promise me Caroline is safe now?"

Stefan nodded. "Yes, if you never believe another word I say please believe that."

Elena sighed and nodded. "I believe you."

"Thank you. Now…I want to explain everything to you, Elena. I really do. But it's extremely private and personal. So I rather not do it at school where people can hear and start rumors or gossip about it. Please tell me you can understand that?"

Elena nodded. "I do. Trust me, I tried so hard to hide my parents death from the kids at school but it got out and everyone started to pity me, and acted like my friends even if they never were before and after a certain time. I was supposed to just be fine with happen and I didn't need them anymore so they left me. I can understand wanting to keep something private. What about you come over to my house after school, Jenna will be out most of the night and I can convince Jeremy to hang with Vicki or something. We'd have the house to ourselves and we can talk as long as you need to."

Stefan smiled softly and nodded. "Thank you, that would be perfect."

"I'll see you after school."

Stefan nodded and smiled softly. Now he had to figure out how he was going to tell her. How did you tell the girl you loved that you were a vampire? Maybe there was a way around this? Maybe he could tell her about himself without letting it slip that he was a vampire.

After school he knocked at the door. Elena opened it and smiled. "You're here."

"Yeah, I said I would be. I know I don't have the best track record of actually showing up when and where I say but…I'd like to change that."

"Of course, come inside."

Stefan walked into the house. He didn't need another invitation but it always made him smile to hear her say it. He followed her into the kitchen.

"So um…I was trying to cook and I almost burnt the house down so I just have some snacks out if you're hungry."

Stefan chuckled. "Why do we both cook. I'm in the mood for some Chicken Parmesan."

"Are you kidding? It's my favorite!"

Stefan smiled and gathered all the ingredients. He started chopping the cheese balls and figured he'd cut to the chase. "So, um, I promised I'd tell you everything about me so…here it goes. "So let's start with Katherine."

"Stefan..." she tried but he didn't let her finish.

"She was... the most beautiful girl that I had ever met. She had this perfect olive skin. And she had this laugh. It was ridiculous. I mean, her laugh made you laugh. And she was fun. She knew how to have a good time. But Katherine was also very impatient and entitled and selfish, and, um, and impulsive. Enter Damon…"Elena noticed how Stefan started cutting the cheese harder, almost as if he was pretending it was Damon's head. "…He claims that he was with her first. I don't know. I do know that I did some things that...I'm not proud of and my biggest regret... Is not being able to make it right before she died. I miss her, but... I'm no longer crippled by her loss."

Elena smiled. She was curious to know what he did that he wasn't proud of but at least it was something. After the serious talk about Katherine Stefan switched to his likes and dislikes as they continued to cook together.

"I'm an avid reader, a huge Fitzgerald fan, "The Great Gatsby", his masterpiece. But I'm no snob. I love some good Christian. I think Seinfeld is the best American television show for the past 50 years, but I Love Lucy is all-time. "The loving cup" episode was the best, I think. Huge Scorsese fan, I can watch Taxi Driver over and over again."

Elena smiled as he went on and on about himself. "Here, let me take over." She moved to his spot and continued to cut the garlic.

He continued to tell her about him. "As far as music, it's pretty much across the board. Um, Dylan, Hendrix, Patsy, Willie. Oh, Kanye. You know what, I even like that one MIley song."

Elena snickered trying to hold back a laugh.

"Easy." Stefan chuckled.

"I didn't say anything."

"No but that little smirk say it all." He teased playfully poking her mouth.

She playfully nipped at him.

"Whoa, getting violent are we?"

They both just laughed together. It was good to laugh with her again.

"Hey, this is for the garlic bread, right? Because I'm not eating garlic unless you agree to, too." She said once their laughter calmed down.

"Are you kidding? I love garlic." He smiled.

He turned to get something from the fridge when he heard her mutter an, ow and then…the smell it hit him like a million bricks. Blood, her blood.

He turned back around in time to see her rush over to the sink. "You ok?" He set his hand down but then quickly lifted it up. He froze. Her blood was now on his hands…literally! He started to breathe harder. He could feel his face changing.

Elena turned to face him with a smile. "Yeah. Think so. Your face..."

He quickly looked away from Elena. "I-I, uh, I think I got something in my eye."

She went over to him and tried to look him in the eyes but he kept his face away from her.

"Stefan. Hey. Stefan!"

Once he was back in control he turned to face her.

"Um, I think that my paranoia has turned into full-blown hallucinations."

He chuckled. "Part of your charm."

They stared lovingly into each other's eyes. Stefan slowly leaned in but didn't kiss her. Elena smiled at how sweet he is and leaned up and kissed him passionately. Oh how they both have missed this.

Stefan returned home and he was on cloud nine. Lexi laughed. "I take it you worked things out with Elena?"

"Yep and she still has no idea about vampires or what I am."

"Good, so then how did you do it?"

"I used my Charm." Stefan answered with a smirk.

Lexi laughed. "What Charm?"

He playfully glared at her. She laughed harder. "Just kidding, you're have a ton of Charm."

"That's better, now the Car Wash fundraiser is tomorrow, want to join?"

"Nah, I'll stay here and take care of Damon, make sure Zac stays away from him. Weak or not, Zac is human and Damon is still stronger than him."

Stefan nodded and understood. "Ok, thanks, Lexi."

"I'm not going to let you lose any more people that you love, Stefan. That's a promise."

Stefan nodded softly, trusting and believing her every word.

Next day, at the Car Wash, Elena was sitting at the front with Caroline helping with the money. He walked over and They shared a kiss hello.

They pulled away due to Caroline's voice. "The event is called Sexy Suds, you know."

"Did we just get scolded?" Stefan asked as she walked away.

"And judged, yeah. I'm sorry, but i guess you're going to have to take that off."Elena said with a smirk.

"I think you have to go first." Stefan said with his own smirk.

"Ok." Elena flirted with a smile. She tried to remove her sweater but it got struck, trapping her arms over her head. "Ok, um-sorry, So not sexy. Ugh."

Stefan chuckled as he got an evil idea. "No, in fact, this could be fun."

"How?" Elena groaned struggling with her sweater.

"Like this…" He pinched her sides making her squeal and pull back. "Stefan, don't you dare tickle me."

He chuckled and helped her remove her sweater. "You're incredibly sexy."

They shared a kiss on the lips and went to work on the first car.

Things were perfect or so Stefan thought. Elena and him flirted and played with every car they washed. They had mini water fights and laughed together. But then Elena left to get some towels and she never came back.

At first he panicked. Damon could have grabbed her and could be hurting her, but then relaxed and remember Damon was locked away with Lexi standing guard. He asked Matt but he was no help. Stefan sighed and was about to go look for her when his cell phone rang.

"Hello? Lexi, this isn't a good time right now…" Stefan's eyes went wide. "No! Is he ok…I'm on my way."

Stefan rushed home to find Zac laying on the couch knocked out and Lexi kneeling next to him.

"What happen?" Stefan asked.

"I was in the shower and I came out, heard screaming and rushed downstairs in my towel. Damon had contacted Caroline and compelled her to let him out. Zac came down to try and stop her but it was too late. Damon had gotten enough strength to get free and drink Zac's blood and run."

"So he's free?" Stefan asked.

Lexi nodded. "I tried to stop him, but I had to save Zac. While I was doing that Damon left."

"But he has no ring."

Lexi sighed. "He does now."

Stefan looked to her hand and sighed. "How?"

"We struggled, I tried to stop him. But I heard Zac's heart slowing down and he used my distraction to his advantage and stole my ring."

Stefan sighed and growled. "Now you're trapped here."

Lexi nodded.

Stefan shook his head. "I've got to go after him. Lexi, I need to stop him."

"I know, just be careful. I'll stay here and make sure Zac is ok."

Stefan nodded and rushed to grabbed a wooden stake and ran to the front door. He yanked it open surprised to see Elena standing there. "What are you?"

Stefan froze, now what was he going to do...

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