I am incredibly sorry for the long wait and I am indeed a piece of absolute shite. But nonetheless, here is the much awaited chapter. The next update will be the epilogue, and that will conclude this fic! Enjoy.
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It's weird how love works between two devoted individuals. The idea of loving someone to the end of time is a gratifying experience. To know that someone out there exists, for whom you would lay your body and soul bare to. Someone you trust enough with the frailest parts of yourself; your heart, your mind and your soul.
In that one moment, Elena could have sworn she saw everything she ever wanted out of life. She sat across Stefan at dinner, wondering how she got so lucky to find this much happiness. She did not deserve this much out of life. There are people who struggle their entire life finding the one thing that would make them want to live. But here she was, sitting at the frail age of 20, with everything she has ever wanted. Sometimes she worried it was all a dream, and that she would wake up without any trace of him. Those thoughts often got her down, but then he would wrap his arms around her and whisper how much he loved her, and she remembered that this is real, that he is real.
Stefan was talking about moving back into his place he had in New York and starting up life here like he knew it. Elena was listening, but she was a bit distracted by the way he spoke and the way his lips moved.
"Elena…" Stefan said trying to get his attention as he saw her zone out a bit. Stefan bit back a smile as Elena realized she was zoning out again.
"Sorry, it's just…I can't believe that we're actually here" Elena said reaching for his hand across the table and intertwining their fingers.
Stefan smiled softly at her before he suggested that they get out of there and make their way back to his hotel room.
Elena agreed as she stood up and smoothed out her dress as Stefan patiently waited for her before leading the way out.
On the drive home, Elena was lost in her thoughts as Stefan slowly hummed the song playing on the radio.
"What are you thinking about?" Stefan said directing his attention towards Elena as she turned away from the window to look at him.
"About everything that has happened…about us" Elena said hesitantly as she looked up to meet his green eyes that she loved so much.
"What about us?" Stefan said as he pulled into the hotel parking lot finding an empty parking space for them.
Stefan stepped out of the car and walked over to Elena's side to open the door for her just like he used to.
"Are we exclusive? Is it a good idea to jump back into things this quick?" Elena rattled off as she grabbed Stefan's hand, making their way inside and up to his room.
They slowly made their way to the room and swung their intertwined hands between them without saying anything for the time being.
"I think we shouldn't worry about all that stuff. We need to simply, be" Stefan said as he opened the room and opened the door, helping Elena in as the door slammed behind them.
"I can live with that" Elena said happily as she turned around to face Stefan as he took his coat off and draped it over the chair in the room.
Stefan slowly walked over to Elena and grabbed her by the waist, picking her up and spinning her around before falling on the bed in a heap of tangled limbs and giggles.
"Good, I'm glad because I have missed out on way too much in the past 2 years" Stefan said as Elena giggled, bringing both of her arms to wrap up around his neck, pulling him closer to her body.
It was amazing how fast their body responded to the other without any need for recollection. It just happened and their body fell into the pronounced dips and curves of the other as if they were never apart.
"Are you sure you can? Because it seems like you've been holding out…" Elena said as her voice started out happy and ended on a sad note.
Stefan pulled up to look down at her, wondering what she was talking about. What could he be holding out on?
"Holding out how?" Stefan asked as he cupped her face, letting his thumb linger on her cheek like it used to. Elena forgot about everything that she was talking about and leant in to his hand, loving the feel of him on her again.
"Like how you haven't kissed me since your graduation two days ago…" Elena said accusingly, but also teasingly. It's not like their whole relationship was built on sex but it was nice to feel close to someone; to feel close to Stefan and to be able to hold him after two very long years.
Elena took this chance to take a quick glance down at his lips and back up to his green eyes that conveyed so much love and meaning.
Stefan let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and went to move away from Elena and off of her body but before he could do that, Elena had her tiny arms wrapped around his back keeping him in place.
"Am I really that repulsive?" Elena joked as she craned her neck around to see Stefan's face that was facing away from her.
Stefan turned his face around with an amused expression on his face as if Elena just told the world's funniest joke.
"I am lying on a bed; half on top of you, contemplating how to control my urges right now and you think that you're repulsive?" Stefan asked with a light laugh.
"Well why else have you not kissed me for two days? Don't think I didn't notice, Stefan." Elena said raising her eyebrows at him.
Stefan looked at Elena for a while, letting his eyes rake up and down her body noticing the tiniest things about her. Like how her legs looked more toned in that dress, how her dress rode up a bit to show off more of her olive thighs, like how her hair was longer and her face was leaner, how her eyes showed more maturity and how her smile never changed; it could still set his heart on fire.
Stefan moved slowly downwards to let his lips rest close to her ear. With this proximity, Stefan heard her breathing pick up and felt her arms leave his shoulders and move to rest on his waist.
Stefan licked his lips slowly, and Elena felt his tongue graze her ear lobe and it was enough to set her body on fire. It was enough for her to want Stefan; she would always want him.
"I haven't kissed you…" Stefan started off slowly and seductively as his hand that rested on her bare knee, moved upwards to trail up her thigh and under her dress, letting his hand wrap around her waist as soon as he hit her panties and grip onto her hip.
Elena closed her eyes and let out a deep breath and held back the moan that threatened to bite its way out.
"Because I'm afraid that I won't wanna stop" Stefan finished as his teeth grazed her lobe, sending shivers down her body and setting it on fire at the same time.
Elena opened her eyes to see Stefan looking down at her with lust filled eyes. She moved her hands from his waist to his chest and let her hands roam hungrily.
"So don't stop" Elena said, loving the feel of his hard chest and torso in her soft little hands as she explored his body.
"Don't you think it's too soon?" Stefan said lowering his face towards Elena's and panting as if he was out of breath, and Elena was the only lifeline he had.
Elena leaned her head up to get closer to Stefan, letting her lips graze his in a heat of passion as she went on to whisper into his lips, "are you gonna shut up and kiss me or do I have to find someone else?" she teased.
The mention of someone else touching Elena made Stefan's blood boil and his lips came crashing down onto hers in what seemed like forever.
Both of them moaned into the kiss with equal fervor as they felt their blood rushing and the intensity rising.
They had spent two years without one another, slow and sweet would have to wait for the time being because right now, they both needed each other and they couldn't wait.
Elena bit down on Stefan's lip before soothing it with her tongue and then sucking it into her mouth, making Stefan groan from the crazy sensation she was evoking.
Stefan gripped her from her hips and detached his lips from hers painfully to let them trail down her neck; alternating between tongue, lips and teeth.
"You better not leave a mark" Elena gasped quickly as Stefan found her favorite spot on her neck and began to suck hotly on her skin, intending to leave his mark.
"And what if I do? You're mine and I want the world to know it" Stefan said moving his hands to her back and unzipping her dress. There was too much clothing for his liking and he suppressed the urge to just tear it off her in the heat of the moment. But then he remembered that Elena would probably kick his ass, so he took the decent way out.
Elena pushed on his shoulders to let him know that she wanted to be on top and Stefan fell on his back, obliging to her every want and need.
Elena placed herself on his thighs and took off the rest of the dress, putting on a bit of a show for Stefan in the process.
As soon as her dress was off, Stefan reached to touch her bare skin that he missed so much but was stopped by a smack to the hand.
"First you wouldn't even touch me, and now you wanna touch me? I don't think so Salvatore" Elena said in a teasing hot voice; one that he had never heard before. Stefan was sure that it came with the two years to her age. She was a lot more daring to say the least.
"Ughhhh Elena not fair" Stefan said groaning in exasperation as he moved upwards to wrap his arms around her as she sat on his lap.
Elena pushed him back down onto the bed while she stayed seated and trailed her index finger from his jaw, down his neck to the collars of his shirt as she bunched up the shirt and gave him a mischievous look as if she were planning something diabolical.
Stefan felt like he was gonna explode and he looked up to see Elena looking at him with cunning eyes and a smirk playing on her lips, but then he realized what she was thinking.
"Elena do not dare, this shirt is Armani, so help me God, Gilbe-" Stefan said trying to warn Elena of the consequences but was cut off when Elena ripped open his shirt and sent his buttons flying all over the bed in a heat of passion, exposing his perfectly sculpted body to her after two years.
Elena just giggled before her lips attacked his chest, leaving hot moist kisses in her wake as she moved down his body trying to get his engines going again. She knew Stefan would punish her somehow, but his punishments usually consisted of ticking and holding her prisoner in bed; needless to say she didn't mind the punishment that awaited her.
"Elenaa" Stefan said with a clenched jaw, half in a moan and half in anger over his favorite Armani shirt being torn to pieces.
Elena reached his pants and moved to unbutton them as she licked and sucked at the V that dipped into his pants.
She got rid of the pants and his boxers as she continued to kiss and lick her way down his body. Stefan couldn't help but rest his hands in her hair, not to push her but to feel close to her.
Elena went down further till she reached her destination and needless to say, Stefan forgot all about the shirt.
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-4 years later-
There was a whirlwind of flurries falling in New York as Elena and Stefan walked down the street looking at all the displays set up for Christmas.
Elena was clinging to Stefan's right arm as she talked excitedly about Christmas the next day. Stefan had learned that Elena loved Christmas and she always went all out every holiday.
"Aren't you excited for Christmas babe?!" Elena half squealed half whispered as she jumped up and down beside Stefan like a 5 year old.
"Yes but not nearly as excited as you" Stefan leaning his head away from her so her head wouldn't hit his as she jumped up and down like she was on a trampoline.
"Oh come on, you get your Christmas present and then you get your other present" Elena smirked as she winked at him knowingly.
Stefan stopped and looked at Elena like a kid who just got an all you can eat pass to the candy store. Well, in some sense, it was an all you can eat.
"I would very much like my other present. You don't even have to give me my Christmas present. I can make do with my other one" Stefan said eagerly with the biggest smile on his face. Stefan was beyond excited.
For the last four years, at every Christmas, Elena got Stefan two presents. One was the standard gift, like a watch, a wallet, a shirt and such. But the second gift, Stefan's favorite, was a gift for him on a much more personal level.
Last year his other gift was a pair of handcuffs and a sexy little lace two piece that left Stefan at a loss for words. Needless to say he was looking forward to this year's second gift.
"I'll think about it" Elena said as she skipped the rest of the way down the street and around the corner all the way home with Stefan trailing closely behind.
After Elena and Stefan both graduated, they both found stable jobs and built their relationship together as a real couple. They weren't naïve little kids anymore, at the ages of 24 and 26, Stefan and Elena were seriously committed to one another and even bought a cozy little townhouse in New York together.
Stefan found a job at a high school, teaching English and History while Elena landed a job at New York Times through a placement with NYU. They made a life for themselves and they were beyond happy together. They spent four years learning to fall deeper in love and in those four years, both could have sworn that their love grew exponentially.
Elena finally reached home as she was out of breath from skipping all the way home. Stefan slowly made his way behind her as she fished for the keys in her pocket to their place.
Stefan wrapped his arms around Elena from the back and rested his chin on her shoulder as she struggled to get the key in the hole.
"Stefan let go of me I can't open the door" Elena complained as she finally opened the door and they stumbled in laughing and giggling. After four years, they never stopped laughing and they hoped they never would.
Elena took her hat and her coat off as she turned around to see Stefan doing the same thing and throwing his scarf across the back of the couch and his coat on the hook.
"Stefan put your scarf where it belongs" Elena chided as she walked over to the fireplace to get it started for a very cold Christmas eve in New York.
"Yes Ma'am" Stefan said obediently as he put all his things away and walked on over to the kitchen as Elena got the fire going.
"Hot chocolate or coffee?" Stefan yelled from the kitchen as he rummaged through the cupboards to find something toasty warm to drink.
He heard Elena running into the kitchen and before he knew it, she threw her body at him, climbing onto his back like a toddler.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist as her lips found their place on his neck.
"Are you an option?" Elena said cutely as Stefan set some water to boil, all the while giving Elena a piggy back ride around the kitchen.
"As soon as you give me my gift, I'll be the only option" Stefan said smugly as he brought Elena around to his front and carried her around like he would a koala.
Stefan kissed her little nose cutely before kissing both her cheeks. "Your face is red from the cold. My little Rudolph" Stefan said as his lips caught her nose and he laid a tiny peck on it while he set her on the counter so he could make the hot chocolate.
"What if I said I didn't buy your second gift" Elena asked hypothetically as she sat on the counter and swung her legs back and forth as she sat on her hands.
"Well you better go buy it" Stefan said simply as he got two cups down from the cupboards.
"We should get a dog" Elena said out of nowhere as she watched Stefan's back as he worked his way through the kitchen.
"Bubbles had some puppies not too long ago. Kat wouldn't mind giving us a little bugger" Stefan said nonchalantly without even turning to look at her.
Elena nearly fell off the counter at his suggestion. She jumped down and nearly crashed into Stefan with excitement.
"You think we should get a dog too? Just like that? No questions asked?" Elena asked almost unbelievably.
"Just like that" Stefan said turning around and wrapping his arms around Elena who looked like she was gonna do a backflip off the wall.
"Are you playing?" Elena asked narrowing her eyes in suspicion. There was no way Stefan would just agree to getting a dog so fast. A dog is a pretty big decision to make; it's a lot of responsibility.
"Would getting a dog make you happy?" Stefan asked as he kissed her forehead and tightened his hold on her waist.
"Yes, but not if you don't want it; we're a team" Elena said happily as she smiled and looked up at Stefan with eyes filled of love.
"If it makes you happy, then I want it" Stefan said simply as he bent down to place a kiss on her lips. Elena leaned into the kiss a little. It was nice and sweet, filled with love as Elena brought her arms around his neck to play with his hair.
"I love you so much, Stefan. You make me really happy, you know that?" Elena said on the brink of tears, as she broke the kiss.
"You make me happy too. You're my everything and if you're not happy, then I have no reason to be either" Stefan said as he left a nice slow kiss on her lips.
"I struck gold with you" Elena whispered as she leaned her head on his chest and enjoyed the moment they were in. They were wrapped in each other's arms on Christmas Eve, with nothing but love between them.
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"That was the best gift yet. I wonder how you're gonna top that next year" Stefan said breathlessly as he laid beside Elena who looked like she was on cloud nine.
Elena had her eyes closed and her hand on her heart as it beat fast due to the previous events of the night.
"I'm not sure whose gift this is anymore. Yours or mine" Elena said with her eyes closed and a quiet hum to her voice as she reveled in her love for Stefan and all the things he could do to her body.
Stefan turned on his side to face Elena whose eyes were still closed. He brought his hand up to touch her cheek as she opened her eyes and wielded a lazy smile on her face. She turned on her side so they were face to face, only inches apart.
"I love you" Stefan whispered as Elena kissed the hand that was caressing her cheek so softly. Elena loved these moments. She loved the moments after they finished making love. They were closer than ever and their minds and bodies hummed with pleasure and love for the other.
"Hmm" Elena said as she closed her eyes, finally feeling sleepy and tired. Elena just whispered "Love you"
Stefan looked at Elena, who looked completely at peace with her eyes closed and a smile playing on her lips; like always.
"Marry me" Stefan blurted out of nowhere, causing Elena's eyes to shoot open faster than she even thought possible, and her hand to come flying from its spot under her head and hit Stefan right in the face.
"What?!" Elena said, half worried about how hard she hit Stefan and half in shock from what he said to her.
"I said marry me, not hit me" Stefan complained as he rubbed his forehead from where Elena smacked him good.
"You're serious, right?" Elena asked as Stefan lowered his hand and laughed at Elena who was now leaning up on her elbow and looking down at him.
"No, Elena, I'm not" Stefan mocked as he sat up too, looking at Elena who was looking at him like he had five heads.
"So then why would you say that?" Elena said confusingly as she sat up with Stefan and they both sat cross legged on the bed.
"Elena Gilbert" Stefan sighed before he began again, "you are sometimes the most impossible woman I have ever met. Of course I meant it. Marry me, Elena." Stefan said simply as he looked at Elena and ducked a little just in case another limb came flying at him.
"Stefan!" Elena half screamed half squealed as she threw her naked body at him, throwing them both down on the bed.
"Yes, yes, yes yes and yes" Elena said as she kissed him repeatedly, wherever her lips could reach.
"Just like that?" Stefan said excitedly with a beaming smile as he rolled them over and now hovered above her.
"Well no, not just like that. I need a ring, Stefan. A nice one too" Elena said laying down the ground rules for what she wants.
"Hmm, okay. So what do you say," Stefan said getting off and rolling over to his side table and coming back with something in his hand, "to a ring like this" Stefan finished as he now sat on his one knee on their bed, showing Elena a ring.
Elena got up from her position and moved to kneel before him, looking at the ring and then looking at him with her hands covering her face in utter shock.
"Stefan…" she whispered quietly, muffled by her hands on her face.
"So? Will you, Elena Anne Gilbert, do me the extraordinary pleasure of being my wife?" Stefan asked hopefully as he showed her the ring once more.
"Yes, a hundred times yes" Elena said as she broke into tears and smiled up at Stefan giving him one of the most passionate kisses she could muster up.
Stefan broke the kiss as his own tears began to surface at her answer. Stefan laughed as one tear found its way down and fell on the soft velvet of the box in his hand.
He carefully took the ring, threw the box over his shoulder, and grabbed Elena's hand as he put the ring on her finger.
Before Stefan could even say anything, Elena was clinging onto him with her hands in his hair and her lips at his ear whispering how much she loved him.
"I love you so much" Elena said as Stefan wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes in pure utter happiness.
"You're kinda stuck with me" Stefan said as Elena pulled away and back down to look at the ring on her finger. It was so surreal, yet it was everything she ever wanted.
"I wouldn't have it any other way" Elena said as Stefan captured her lips and they fell on the bed celebrating the beginning of their new life together.
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Well that concludes the last chapter for Love With Class! I sincerely hope you enjoyed this story just as much as I did writing it. The next chapter will be the epilogue and thank you so so so much for reviewing and reading.