Dear Diary,
I'm starting to really get stressed out about my college application as the weeks go by. I have been accepted to almost all of the schools I had applied for but the one that I really wanted hasn't come in yet. I've been freaking out about my application for days because the longer it takes the more I believe I haven't been accepted to VSU.
Damon and I have been through so much over the last year and I really don't see how we could deal with being separated for another school year.
Elena
Nervously biting her fingernails Elena paced the floor in the Gilbert house. Checking her watch for what seemed like the hundredth time she ran over to the front bay window and peaked out obviously waiting for something. When still she didn't see what she wanted she let out a grunt and turned on her heels to head back into the family room where Damon was on the floor with Claire.
"You know they say a watched pot never boils" Damon stated as he looked up at a very frustrated and anxious Elena. He knew what she was all worried about and tried to lighten the mood a bit.
"This isn't like cooking dinner Damon" Elena replied as she took a seat on the sofa and watched as Claire was walking around the coffee table setting up a pretend tea party for them.
"It will come" Damon assured her and then looked over at Claire as she brought him over a little pink teacup. He smiled as he watched the little girl blow on the cup like it was hot because it was something she always saw mommy do before drinking it. "Thank you Ladybug"
"You welcome" Claire answered with a smile before she ran over to pour a cup for mommy.
"This time last year you had your acceptance letter" Elena reminded him. She hated this waiting game she was forced to play when it came to college. Her whole future depended on getting into VSU and now it was the last school she was waiting to hear from. "I should have gotten something by now" Elena added before she got up again to check to see if the mailman was coming.
"Elena you'll get in" Damon called out to her but he knew that no matter what he said she was going to be a wreck until she found out.
"More tea?" Claire asked as she held up the little toy teapot and was looking at her daddy for an answer.
"Yummy yes please!" he answered her and held up his cup.
With a smile Claire bounced over to him and pretended to pour him some more tea. With a smile Damon leaned forward to kiss her cheek and the little girl giggled as if he had tickled her. "Come here I'm not done" Damon said in a playful growl as he wrapped his arms around the squealing two year old and started to kiss her all over.
"No more daddy!" Claire begged with a smile as she was wrapped in his arms but by the look in her eyes she knew he wasn't going to let her go and she stated giggling and fidgeting in his arms as he started kissing her again.
When Damon finally did release her she scampered over to the other side of the coffee table and jumped on the sofa. Using all her might to climb onto the sofa and let out a tired sigh when she finally did it and plopped herself down and was smiling over at her daddy.
"No more tea for daddy!" Claire chirped just as Elena was coming back into the room.
She couldn't help but laugh a she took a seat next to her daughter who was eyeing Damon across the table. "Seem like you just got scolded" Elena said to him.
"First time of many before she turns eighteen" Damon replied with a laugh as he stared at his two girls as they sat on the couch together and both having matching smiles.
"You know we might need to start figuring out an alternate plan if I don't get in" Elena said knowing it was a conversation they both had been avoiding.
"Elena you will get in" Damon said as he rolled his eyes.
"We don't know that Damon" Elena answered back as her tone sounded really worried. "We may be forced again to be in different schools and what happens then? What about Claire?" Elena asked him.
"We will discuss it when it becomes an issue" he told her as he got up from his spot on the floor and moved over to sit beside Elena on the couch. Wrapping an arm around her he kissed her forehead as she moved to snuggle a little closer to him. She knew that it was a conversation that neither wanted to have but one that could very well be necessary. Letting out a sigh she decided to drop it for now but eventually they wouldn't be able to hide from this conversation.
"The waiting is so stressful, and to add on I have to go through all these wedding invitations to see who is having chicken and who is having vegetarian for dinner" Elena said with a tired sigh as she eyed the big pile that Jenna had brought her and left in a pile on the coffee table.
At this point Claire, who was sitting on the other side of the Elena felt a little left out of the hug. She tugged on her mommy's shirt as she pulled herself up so she was now standing on the cushion and she tried to do it with graced but ended up tumbling head first on to her mother's lap when she lost her balance.
Both Damon and Elena couldn't help but laugh at their little two year old as she tired to climb in between them. As she shook her head Elena picked Claire up and balanced her on her lap as both her and Damon laughed at her. "Feeling a little left huh?" Elena asked her daughter.
"I can fix that" Damon replied and then as he reached forward he started to tickle Claire's tummy as she squirmed and let out a shriek of laughter. Elena did her best to hold Claire still as Damon continued to tickle her but it was becoming more and more difficult.
When Damon pulled his hands away, Claire reached for her mom to hug her close as she hid her eyes away from Damon thinking that if she couldn't see him then he couldn't see her.
"Oh I see you hide with mommy for protection," Damon said with a chuckle as he could see a smile growing on Claire's face as her eyes and forehead pressed against Elena's shoulder.
"Mommy will protect you" Elena answered as she leaned down to press a kiss against her daughter's temple. As she did he eyes looked up at Damon with a smile while he just sat there watching them. It was moments like these that Elena really enjoyed and was afraid of what another year separated could do to them.
That can't be right there has to be some kind of mistake," Zach said as he had the phone pressed against his ear while he hurried to his computer to check for himself. "I haven't touch that account" he added while taking a seat at the computer.
As he signed on to his bank records he stared at the trust fund he had set up for Stefan and saw that a large withdrawal had been made. He was confused at first wondering what had gone wrong but suddenly like a tone of bricks he realized that $5000.00 had been withdrawal and that was the same amount Stefan had recently tried to get him to give to Theresa.
Gritting his teeth he knew what had happen and told the woman on the phone he would handle everything himself. When he ended the call Zach shook his head and got up from hi chair and headed for the door. He was angry and while he wasn't happy with Stefan it was really Theresa he was mad at because he knew very well that money was all that really mattered to Theresa. She had maxed out his brother's credit cards before taking off with some other poor sap that could give her money. As much as it angered him that Stefan would just hand over money to her he was furious that Theresa would use the vulnerability of her son who wanted to get to know his mother as a reason to get money from him. He wasn't about to let her get away with hurting his nephew.
Sitting on a park bench in the town square Stefan was checking his watch and wondered where his mother was. They had agreed to meet for lunch but now it was a good 30 minutes after the time they had agreed to meet. He hadn't seen her since he had given her the money because she had told him that there were some things she needed to get sorted out first. Today she had agreed to have lunch but he hadn't heard from her since.
This lunch was important to him because he had made the decision and invited her to his graduation that was coming up in a couple weeks. While Zach and Damon weren't aware of this new development he figure it was best to keep it that way. The last thing he needed was them all fighting up until one of the biggest moments of his life.
His phone started to ring and Stefan jumped at the sound that broke his concentration but quickly pulled out his phone to see if his mother had called. Yet while the call wasn't from his mother he was happy with the surprise call from Rebekah.
"Hey!" Stefan said with a big smile on his face. While the two did manage to stay in contact during her time in England for school the last two weeks, as Rebekah was busy with exams he hadn't heard much from her.
"Hey there stranger" Rebekah said on the other end of the line.
By the sound of her happy voice she was finally finished exams and that meant that in no time she would be hopping on a plane and be back in town. It had been hard being away from each other but the thought that soon exams would be behind them and that they would have the whole summer together was a great feeling. "How did your exams go?"
"They went great! But nothing feels better then knowing that they are all done and summer can begin" She told him.
"Are you packed yet? When do you get here?" he asked her as he was looking forward to seeing her after all this time.
"Well about that…" she started to say and then her voice trailed off.
Hearing her say this made Stefan a little nervous, they had been talking about her coming home for the summer for months and he now feared plans had changed. Was she not coming to Mystic Falls anymore? If so what did that mean about them? "What's going on?" he asked her in a very worried tone not sure if he really wanted her to answer or not.
"Turn around" she told him and while he was confused at first he finally did as she said and to his surprise he saw Rebekah standing there with a huge smile on her face as she had her cell phone to her ear and was waving to him with her other.
A smile grew across his face at the sight of her and when he hung up the phone he jumped up off the bench and took off running in her direction. The smile on her face was identical to his and as she put her phone back in her pocket to take a few steps towards him not being able to hold back her excitement of finally being able to see him face to face.
When they reached each other Stefan had his arms wrapped around her and was twirling her around in the middle of the town square. Rebekah couldn't help but laugh as she lifted up her feet and had her arms wrapped around his neck. It had been so long since they had been in each other's arms and the feeling felt so good. As their eyes connected expressing so much that they wanted to say to each other their lips were like magnets in a hungry kiss.
When they broke apart Stefan still couldn't believe this was real and that she was here. From what he had understood she wasn't going to be here for another week but here she was standing in front of him. "Thought your weren't coming for another week" Stefan said as their hands refused to let go of each other.
"I was able to get my parent to book me an earlier flight, I wanted to surprise you," she told him.
"This is so amazing" Stefan said as he gave her another hug. "I've missed you so much" he told her as it felt so good to have her in his arms.
As the two walked back over to the bench that Stefan had been sitting at previously, the two were able to catch up on stuff that had missed. They talked about Rebekah's school in England, Stefan's graduation, and the scare Bonnie had given the group on the night of prom. In many ways it was like no time had passed as they felt like they hadn't been separated for months. It was something Stefan loved about spending time with Rebekah and didn't have to feel awkward and nervous all the time. They clicked so well together and he felt like he could tell her anything.
He mentioned his mother being back in town and the news was quite a shock to Rebekah because she knew that Stefan knew very little about her. "Your mum? What is she like? Is she here to stay?" Rebekah asked. These were questioned Stefan himself had had about his mother and some that he still had no idea how to answer himself.
"I want to have a relationship with her and I think she does too, it's just Damon is against it, Zach doesn't trust her and I'm conflicted of who I should listen to" Stefan explain to her as he looked down at his hands. "I mean I never had a mother growing up and a part of me always missed that. Sure I don't expect her to be mother of the year or anything but I'd like to get to know her and her to know me" Stefan told her.
Rebekah gave a nod as she sat on the bench beside Stefan thinking about this woman who had taken off out of Stefan's life with out as much as an explanation and was now back. Sure a part of her was happy for Stefan and glad he was finally getting that chance to know her but at the same time she could see why Damon and Zach were skeptical of letting her back into their lives.
"Last time I saw her I invited her to my gradation, but since then I haven't seen her" Stefan told her as he sadly looked away and a little worried of what this meant in regards to her being late in meeting him today.
Pulling out his phone Stefan texted her one more time asking where she was but like the four messages he had left before he wasn't sure if she was going to answer him. Rebekah sat there watching as he hesitated in sending the text message to his mother, he was afraid that maybe he had pushed her a little too hard. She could tell how much Stefan wanted his relationship with his mother to work but Rebekah herself was a little wary of the woman and she hadn't even met her yet.
In the hospital Bonnie was just finishing off on signing her release papers as she was finally given the clear to go home. She still had a long road ahead of her but getting out of the hospital was a step in the right direction. Agreeing to therapy, and knowing she probably wouldn't get much time alone she actually found it quite comforting.
"Ready to ditch this place?" came Elena's voice just as Bonnie was handing the clipboard back to the nurse. Looking over at her friend who had volunteer to pick her up she gave a smile and then looked down at Claire who was sitting in a stroller and holding on to her stuff ladybug.
"You have no idea how badly," Bonnie said with a laugh as she hopped out of the hospital bed to finish packing up her things. "I'm looking forward to tasting anything thing that doesn't taste like cafeteria food."
"Well then it's a good thing school is just about done" came Jeremy's voice as he stepped into view from behind Elena.
"Hey Jeremy" Bonnie said with a smile to the younger Gilbert.
Jeremy had figured that since he had been going to therapy after his drug addiction and anger issues he could talk to Bonnie about his therapist Kelly Fell who would now also be her therapist. It can be quite hard to open up to a complete stranger but Jeremy hoped by telling her a little about Kelly Fell then maybe Bonnie would be a little more comfortable with her.
"Cookie, Get cookie please!" Claire asked as her little hand pointed down the hall in the direction of the cafeteria.
Elena shook her head, as Claire seemed to think of the hospital was a cookie store rather then a hospital. "I'll be back" Elena told Bonnie and then started to head down the hall in search of a cookie for Claire.
Bonnie couldn't help but giggle at the adorable two year old as she seemed to have no problem showing her mother where they were suppose to go. "She's a smart little thing," Bonnie said with a smile to Jeremy while she finished packing up her things.
"Yeah, she knew where we were before we pulled into the parking lot" Jeremy replied as he stepped further into the room. Taking in Bonnie's appearance he could see that although she was still underweight she was looking a lot better over these last few days. Slowly her bruises were healing and Bonnie was starting to adjust again.
"How are you feeling?" Jeremy asked Bonnie as he nervously kicked at the floor.
"I'm doing okay I think" she answered with a sigh as she took a seat on the bed. "The last few days have been… god I don't even know how to explain it" Bonnie said as she shook her head.
"It get easier, trust me," Jeremy told her as he thought about his own struggles with drugs and getting into trouble. "At first I thought I could handle it on my own but that never worked. You have a lot of people who care about you and won't let you lose yourself again," he told her.
"I know, I mean I not sure I would still be here it wasn't for everyone" Bonnie said as she bit her bottom lip. "I just don't know how I'm suppose to talk to a complete stranger" she said to him.
"You mean Kelly Fell? I felt weird about that too at first but it was actually helpful talking to someone who didn't know everything about me. Kelly is great and she really helped me and I believe will do the same for you" Jeremy told her.
Bonnie gave a laugh as she looked at Jeremy and for the first time could see how much he had matured over the last year. He used to be Elena's mouthy; troublemaker brother but now seemed like a totally different person. He also seemed so much happier then he had been and it was obvious that therapy was really working for him.
"Thank you Jeremy" Bonnie said to him with a smile and then as she stood up from the bed she moved to give him a hug. The hug was only brief but during those seconds it was obvious that although their struggles were different they maybe able to help each other.
"Okay ready to go?" came Elena's voice as she and a chocolate covered face Claire arrived back in the room.
Pulling away from the hug Bonnie gave Jeremy a smile and the looked at Elena and Claire standing in the doorway. "I am so ready to get out of this place," Bonnie answered happily. Turning to the bed to pick up her suitcase and coat.
"Here let me!" Jeremy offered and gently took the suitcase for Bonnie.
"Thanks" she said with a smile and tucked a strand of her hair being her ear. "Okay lets go!" Bonnie said happily as she headed to the door and tussled Claire's hair. Claire let out a giggle as she looked up at her auntie Bonnie and then reached out her hand so that she was holding her mother hand in one and Bonnie's hand with her other hand. Elena too gave a smile as they left the hospital room with Jeremy following behind them with Bonnie's bag in the stroller as he pushed it heading for the exit.
When he never heard back from Theresa Stefan took it upon himself to go and check on her. He knew she was saying at the town Inn and thought to try looking for her there first. After speaking to the front desk and having them confirm that she hadn't left her room Stefan decided to go and check on her. Walking down the hall his nerves were growing with every step he took towards the door. He had no idea why she had bailed on him for lunch and was a little afraid to find out what had happened. When he reached her door he hesitated to knock for a moment but after taking a deep breath moved his closed fist up to the door and knocked twice.
He could hear someone on the other side of the door moving around and after a moment he finally heard the doorknob start to turn. Watching as the door slowly opened, Stefan bit his bottom lip and shifted his feet while he tried to calm his nerves. When the door opened wide he was staring at Theresa as she looked guilty and like she had hoped he wouldn't come looking for her.
"Stefan…" she said with a sigh as she backed away from the door and stepped back into the room.
"I waited for you but you never showed up, I thought we were going to have lunch" Stefan asked her as he followed her into the hotel room. Looking around the room while his mother scattered around he saw a suitcase on the bed with unfolded clothes piled inside. By the looks of it Theresa Salvatore was packing up to leave rather then stay. He felt his heart pounding in his chest as he looked from the packed suitcase then over to his mother who looked nervous and guilty to be caught in the act. "What's going on?" he asked her.
Theresa's eyes shifted, as she couldn't look her son in the eyes, as he seemed to be staring at her and begging for answers. She knew that the answers she had to offer were not the ones he wanted to hear but the truth was that she didn't belong here. She wasn't the mothering type, never was and even though she thought that maybe she could be it just was not her. When Stefan had invited her to her to his graduation it just reminded her how much she had missed and how she never cared to come back for any of his or his brother's other milestones.
"Look Stefan" Theresa started to say as she looked down and tugged on the sleeve on her shirt.
"You're leaving aren't you?" Stefan said sadly and not sure if he wanted her to really answer it or not. "You weren't really planning to stay in Mystic Falls were you?" he accused her while he held back tears.
Stefan had dreamt about the moment he could finally know his mother and he thought he would finally have that chance. Growing up he was that kid in the class who had to make mothers day gifts in school only to throw them out on his way out of the school. To Stefan mothers' day was just another regular Sunday. Sure having her back in his life didn't mean that it would make up for all those special days she missed but at least she would be here. He wanted to believe she was here to stay but he ignored the warnings from his uncle and brother and decided to give her a chance. Unfortunately at this moment he was really regretting letting her into his life as she planned to run off once again.
"Look Stefan I'm sorry I can't live up to the expectations you have for me," she told him.
"Expectation? I just wanted to get to know you! Why are you running?" he yelled at her as he fought back tears.
"This is for the best," she told him.
"FOR YOU OR ME?" he demanded to know. "Were you just here for money and then planning to leave again this whole time?"
"Stefan" she said sadly.
"ANSWER ME!" Stefan demanded in anger.
Theresa looked away from her youngest son knowing show couldn't give him the answer he wanted. Before she could say anything to him there was another knock on the door and then without waiting to be invited in the door opened and Zach Salvatore was standing there. The look on his face was one of anger as he was staring straight at Theresa.
Stefan turned to look at his uncle as he stepped into the room and it was obvious that his visit would not be a pleasant one. Theresa herself seemed shocked but Zach showing up and a little afraid of what he was planning on doing. She said nothing as he stepped into the room and never blinked as he stared at her.
"Stefan, give Theresa and I a moment alone" he said breaking the chilling silence in the room. His eyes never left Theresa for a second as he repeated his orders to Stefan needing to speak to her on his own.
Stefan hesitated for a moment as he wasn't quite done talking to his mother on his own but decided not to fight his uncle on this. Biting his bottom lip he took was last glance at his mother who seemed to be refusing to look at him. He was so angry with her as she seemed to be running yet again just when he had the idea she was here to stay.
Once Stefan had left the room and the door was closed Zach continued to stare at his sister in-law who seemed to bring pain whenever she was here. "All these years and you still haven't changed," he said to her as he shook his head in disbelief. Theresa remained silent as Zach started to pace the floor in front of her.
"Look Zach this is what you wanted you wanted me to leave" she said to him as she glared at her brother in-law.
"No at no point in me not trusting you did I want you to take money from your own son and run out of town. That's low even for you" he accused her as he pointed a finger at her.
"If you had just helped me you then I wouldn't of had to," she snapped back.
"So that is really the only reason you came back huh? You last rich boyfriend stopped buying for you and giving you money so you come here? How much debt are you in Theresa?"
Theresa scoffed knowing that he wasn't going to help her. Shaking her head she pushed past him wanting to leave. "Forget about it, it was a mistake coming here," she said to him.
"Your running aren't you?" he accused her and it didn't seem like she was going to deny it either. She was got herself in so much debt that she was planning just to take off and drop off the face of the earth to avoid paying. "That is why you wanted to money from Stefan? It wasn't to pay back debts it is to get out of the country," he said as Theresa was standing at the front door. "Your own son" he added.
"Okay sue me I wasn't the greatest mother" she snapped at him. "You're whole damn family had this image I was suppose to be like, I was a Salvatore and I have to act like a Salvatore. I didn't want all that!"
"You just wanted the money," he yelled. "You know what if that is all you want then fine take it, how much do you need how much do I have to give you so that you never ever hurt my sons again?" he said as he pulled out his cheque book.
"Your sons?" Theresa asked.
"Yes they are my sons, and with no thanks to you they are two very extraordinary human beings"
"You are paying me to leave?"
"I am giving you what you want so that Damon and Stefan can move on without seeing that all their own mother wanted was money.
Theresa bit her bottom lip and started pacing the floor thinking about her options. She looekd back at Zach as he held his cheque book and seemed like he was willing to write down any amount she could ever want. Finally she came to a stop and was standing right in front of Zach, a man who was better off taking care of Damon and Stefan then she ever was or ever would be. Some women just aren't meant to be mothers and unfortunately for her she figured that out too late. "I need two hundred grand."
With Bonnie's release from the hospital the gang decided to get together at The Grill. As everyone came in one by one Bonnie was glad that everyone could make it. Caroline and Tyler arrived and although Caroline had seen Bonnie just hours before she was giving her friend a tight hug. Jeremy had also come which she was really happy about especially as the two of them seemed to be bonding over personal struggles and trying to get their lives back on track.
For the first time Bonnie was looking at Jeremy as someone more then just Elena's troubled little brother. He was actually a lot of fun to be around and always had a way of making her laugh when she really needed it. He was becoming such a good friend to her that she was so happy to have him part of her life.
Bonnie was also very thrilled when she saw Elena, Damon and little Claire come through the door. She immediately got up from the table to say hi to them and take Claire into arms for a big hug. She had found so much comfort in just being able to interact with Claire lately and put all her struggles aside for just a little bit and enjoy the innocence of a child. When ever she needed a smile Claire was always there and offering up hugs and kisses for her.
"I'm so glad you could all come" Bonnie said as she held Claire on her hip while Elena and Damon took their seats.
"We had a little incident with someone not wanting to put her shirt on but I'm sure no one would believe us anyway" Damon said as he tickled Claire's tummy as he remembered having to chase her down at home and fight with her as she was kicking and screaming not wanting to get dressed.
"Geez Elena you are going to be a bad influence with that behavior" Jeremy joked as he played off Damon's comment like Elena was being the difficult one.
Elena shook her head and rolled her eyes at her brother before she threw her napkin at him from across the table.
"Some how I doubt that this little angel is capable of kicking and screaming" Bonnie said as she kissed Claire's cheek while the two year old just smiled and acted all innocent.
"Babysit her more often and you will be running for the hills" Damon replied.
"Aw she probably just tired of you trying to get her to wear a leather jacket" Caroline chimed in from across the table as she laughed at Damon. "The girl likes pink, deal with it"
"She likes the jacket" Damon defended while everyone else laughed including Claire although she had no idea why.
As Bonnie took a seat beside Elena she had Claire on her lap and was asking the little girl about what she did today. Being a little chatty Cathy, Claire talked on and on to Bonnie and was showing her the new shoes she had gotten.
"So is Stefan coming?" Bonnie asked since she hadn't heard back from him when she had invited him to come for lunch.
"Um no" Elena said as she looked over at Damon to confirm.
"He's not really up for big crowds right now…" Damon informed them as he thought back to the conversation he had had with Zach earlier about Theresa and how she had used Stefan to get money. Damon knew that Stefan was trying to give their mother the opportunity to be a part of their lives but while Damon had a feeling things wouldn't end well he hoped for Stefan's sake that she could change. "His girlfriend or something is also in town" Damon added as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Her name is Rebekah" Elena replied as she nudged her boyfriend has she had already been over this with Damon.
"Yeah whatever, the good news out of all this is that my mother dearest is leaving town," Damon informed them with a smile on his face.
"Well don't' look now but it seems she hasn't left quite yet" Elena said and she noticed Theresa walking into the restaurant and heading towards the bar.
"You have got to be kidding me," Damon growled.
"Just ignore her," Elena told him knowing how much Damon usually got upset when he had to talk about her or to her.
"She means nothing to me" he told her and then grabbed a menu to get his mind off the woman sitting across the room.
Elena bit her bottom lip and looked over at Claire sitting Bonnie's lap and playing with the napkin that she had grabbed off the table. "I'll have to get a high chair for her" Elena said as she moved to get out of her chair.
"Oh I'll get it" Bonnie told her as she got up and handed Claire back to Elena as she took a seat back down beside Damon.
Bonnie headed over to get the high chair up by the bar and she did her best not to make eye contact with Theresa as she sat at the bar. While Bonnie didn't know everything that had gone on between Damon, Stefan and their mother she had heard enough to know that this woman wasn't even really sorry for leaving them all those year ago.
During her time in the hospital she had heard a few stories from Elena about how some of Damon's encounters with his mother had gone and none of them positive. As for Stefan Bonnie was aware that he was trying to give his mother a chance but given the new developments she was hearing things weren't going so well.
As Theresa sat at the bar she didn't even look sad, or heartbroken about he reconnection with Stefan failing. Instead she looked like she was once again getting ready to get up and leave Mystic Falls behind.
"It's good to see you up and about" came a voice and as Bonnie looked around she saw Theresa looking at her.
Biting her bottom lip Bonnie looked around the room to see if she could be talking to anyone else but Theresa was looking straight at her. "Yeah thanks" was all Bonnie said as she moved over to the corner of the bar to pick up the highchair.
"You're the girl who was in the hospital right? Stefan's friend?" she asked even though Bonnie didn't seem interested in talking to her.
"Yes" she answered her as she held the high chair in her grip and nervously stood there a couple feet from Theresa Salvatore.
"You know I won't bite" Theresa said with a bit of a smirk as she could se how uncomfortable she was making Bonnie as this moment. Looking at the young girl she looked so much like her mother whom she had had many encounters with years ago. Bonnie was the spitting image of her mother that is was kind of haunting how much she looked like Dr. Bennett from when she left all those years ago. She watched, as Bonnie would glance over at her friends including Elena and Damon who were busy entertaining Claire to see her talking to Damon's mother.
"They aren't fond of me because I told them their relationship won't last" Theresa said when Bonnie made no comment or even attempt to leave. "Teenage love is nothing but child crushes and it's a shame that a little baby is being caught in the middle much like Damon and Stefan were years ago when I was young.
"You don't know them" Bonnie replied as she defended her friends.
"Don't be naive Bonnie, I'm aware of what you think of Damon, are you really going to defend that they can remain this happy little family?" Theresa said as she shook her head. In her time of returning to Mystic Falls she had the chance to hear all the gossip that the town was famous for including who didn't get along. The feelings of Bonnie and Damon were ones she had learned fairly quickly because of the way he had hurt her sister and was afraid he would break her friend's heart next.
"You're wrong" Bonnie stated.
"Am I?" Theresa asked.
"I've heard the stories, my own son is a womanizer breaking hearts left and right. I understand your own sister was a pawn in one of his little games and left this town heart broken and humiliated. Elena got knocked up at summer camp from a one-night stand and the two were force to be in each other's lives because of Claire. Do you really think they would still be together if it wasn't for Claire? Honestly Bonnie?"
Bonnie was listening very closely to Theresa and it was all true everything she had said were all thoughts she herself had said when it came to Damon. He was selfish cared for no one but himself. He wasn't reliable and was definitely not the first person she would think of to count on if she needed help. Of course that was her thinking a couple weeks ago before Damon did something that she would never forget. He had stood up for her against Connor and made sure he would never threaten her again. Even after all the hateful things she had accused Damon of he stood up for her. He had changed so much over the last two and a half years that it was hard to believe he was ever the same womanizer he was years ago.
"He will grow tired of being tied down like I was at that age and will take off" Theresa told her as she took a drink from her glass that the bartender had just brought over.
"You don't know Damon at all," Bonnie said to the bitter woman. "Unlike you he has put his family ahead of everything. That little girl is his life and he would do anything for her and Elena."
It was a bit of a shock to Bonnie herself as she defended Damon to his estranged mother who claimed to know her son when she hadn't spent more then a couple hours with him. This woman had some nerve coming back into town acting like she knew everything about everyone. Bonnie found herself shaking her head in disbelief at how this woman did not seem at all sorry for abandoning her family years ago and instead was claiming her son would do the same thing. "Damon is nothing like you," She stated as she found herself getting in Theresa's face and waving her finger at the woman. "Both Damon and Stefan have turned out to be great guys, sure Damon had a bit of a bad boy phase but with no thanks to you is a excellent father to Claire. The way I see it you did them a favour when you left all those years ago and they don't need you now" Bonnie told her and before Theresa could say anything she picked up the high chair and returned to the table where friends were waiting.
Rebekah found Stefan in his room later that afternoon hitting a punching bag as he was obviously taking his anger with his mother out on the bag. He had sent her a text not long after he had said he was going to see his mother and it made her realize that things must not of gone well with her.
She didn't expect to hear from him until after dinner but instead he was texting her in the early afternoon and saying his day just opened up. Her theory was proven to be true even more when she arrived at the Salvatore house and Zach told her he was working out.
Over their time of getting to know each other, it became easier to know when Stefan was having a bad day because he could be found working out and trying to work out his frustration with a punching bag.
When Rebekah entered the room it didn't seem like Stefan even noticed her as she stepped into his room. He was so focused on the punching bag and every punch had a little more force then the one before. This seemed to confirm things for her about how his meeting with Theresa had gone pretty bad and not the way Stefan was hopping.
He was now punching the bag faster and harder, his face turning red, as he was obviously tired. He kept pushing himself more and more and it look like his body wasn't able to keep up. If he didn't stop soon he might collapse but he was just so focus on really punching the bag that he kept pushing himself further and further. Rebekah could see the pain on his face, he needed to stop and rest but he wasn't going to stop on his own.
"Stefan, Stefan" Rebekah called out to him as she tried to get in his eye line. "I think you should stop, Stefan please' she begged him as he just pushed on. He needed to give himself time to breath but he refused to stop. "Come on Stefan time to take a break" she said, "You need to stop."
Unfortunately this just made Stefan push harder until finally his body couldn't keep up and he collapsed to the ground in his bedroom. His heart was racing and his limbs seemed so stiff as he lay on his side needing to catch his breath.
Rebekah immediately ran over to him and was at his side giving him reassuring touches and doing her best to get him to calm down. "Just relax, you're okay just relax," she whispered to him softly as Stefan didn't say a word but instead tried to slow down his breathing. His head was resting on Rebekah's lap while her fingers moved through his hair doing what she could to comfort him.
Stefan wasn't sure how long he had stayed on the floor in his room but his body refused to let him moved for quite some time. Rebekah didn't' say much during that time either she just ran her fingers through his hair and let him relax knowing he would confide in her when he was ready.
Now in the shower the hot water was helping to relax his muscled that he had pushed a little too hard. Thinking back to the reason he was so mad in the first place Stefan let out a sigh and looked up at the showerhead so that the hot water could splash over his face as he closed his eyes and let the water drip down his body. When he looked down his hand went up to turn off the faucet. As the water slowly stopped streaming out of the showerhead, Stefan leaned his head against the shower wall and tried to calm down his anger.
It wasn't his fault that Theresa couldn't live up to the mother he had hoped she would be but he felt like a fool that he even gave her the chance. Looking back Stefan was starting to wonder why he ever thought things would be different. She had left when he was a baby, never wrote never visited all these years while he was growing up but for some reason he thought she had come back to be the mother he never had. Letting out a sigh Stefan reached out for a towel that was hanging just outside the shower and wrapped it around himself.
When he reentered his bedroom he had on jeans and a t-shirt and found Rebekah sitting on his desk chair. "Hey feeling better?" she asked him although she knew that it would actually take more then a shower for him to move on from the hurt brought on by his mother's return to Mystic Falls.
"A little I guess" Stefan responded as he took a seat on the end of his bed and bowed his head.
Seeing how broken up Stefan was about everything that had happened today she got up off from her seat and walked over to the bed to sit down next to him. She gave him a reassuring smile and then reached out to hold his hand that rested on his lap. She wanted him to know that she would be here for him and that he could tell her anything.
"I was wrong about her," Stefan told her sadly as he turned his head to look at Rebekah as she sat beside him. He then looked down at their hands as their fingers interlinked with each other and he softly brushed his thumb over the back of her hand. "I was looking for her to be mother of the year and of course she couldn't live up to that. Not all those years ago and not now, I was an idiot to think she would be" Stefan told her as he looked back down at his feet.
"No you're not" Rebekah told him as she brought her hand up to brush against his face and force him to look at her. "You want to see the good in people and it is one of the things I love about you" Rebekah. She gave him a smile as he finally looked up at her and those beautiful eyes.
Without saying a word Stefan leaned forward to capture her lips in a tender kiss. She immediately responded to his kiss as her eyes closed and her hands came up to cup his face. Slowly the kiss became a little more desperate as Stefan turned his body so that his left arm could wrap around Rebekah's body as she slowly lay back on the bed and pulled Stefan along with her.
Lying on her back she never broke from the kiss as Stefan lay on top of her and allowed her to reach around then tug at his shirt and slip it off him. Her heart starting beating faster with every movement they made and his seemed to be beating just as fast. With Stefan's shirt thrown across the room hers soon followed as the two were nervous but anxious teenagers crawled up the bed. Both had thought about this moment a hundred times since they had to say goodbye to each other when she went off to boarding school in England. It was almost too hard to believe that they were finally having the opportunity to be together.
They were both excited but nervous as they interacted in some foreplay on the bed trying to explore each other's bodies with their hands and mouths. Falling back onto the pillow Rebekah let out a giggle as Stefan hovered above her looking so nervous about what they were about to share together. With one last reassuring smile Rebekah brushed her hand over his cheek and then pulled him down to capture his lips while the rest of their clothes were soon tossed to the floor.
"DAMON!" Elena called out as she came bursting into the family room with her hands full with wedding RSVPs that needed to be sorted and see who was having what for dinner. Looking both stressed and in a rush she dropped the envelops that was also mixed in with regular mail on the coffee table while she looked around the room for Damon who seemed to conveniently gone missing at this time. "Come on I told Jenna this was done," Elena said with a huff.
"Why would you do that?" came Damon's voice.
Looking around the room she could tell he was close and then her eyes fell on Claire's pink child's castle tent in the corner of the room and Damon's long legs hanging out of it. Rolling her eyes and playing with her hair Elena walked over to the opening of the tent to find Damon lounging inside the tent with Claire as she was attempting to read him a book with her own creative wording. Damon looked pretty comfortable as he was lying in the tent with an arm behind his head.
"Hi mommy!" Claire said with a big smile as she saw her mother's head pop into the opening of the tent. She was sitting cross-legged beside her daddy with one of her books placed on her lap and although upside down was trying to read it to daddy.
"Hi sweetheart, daddy has work to do" Elena told her daughter as she knelt down and was eyeing Damon who didn't really want to move.
"Actually you have work to do, I never told Jenna I sorted to invitations" he said with a smirk as he lay in the tent.
"Come on!" Elena said again and then tapped Damon's leg to get him moving.
Rolling his eyes Damon turned to look at Claire as she held her book in her hand and smiled at her daddy. "To be continued later," he said to her and then rolled onto his knees so that he could back out of the tent.
"Tinue lader" Claire said trying to mimic her daddy's words.
Damon gave a little chuckle as he left the tent and came to stand up on his feet leaving Claire to read in her castle as he made his way over to a stressed out Elena. She started moving a few of them around the coffee table as she started to create a pile and start making a list. "Jenna is off work in like fifteen minutes and wants to see the list"
"Why did you tell her it was done?" Damon asked as he knelt down beside her.
"Because she has been nagging me to go through this of days now and I got tired of her bringing it up. She has also been moody lately and I don't want to deal with a stressed out bride" Elena told him.
"Or you could of done them days ago" Damon offered as a solution.
"Just help me please!" Elena begged as she passed Damon a stack to go through.
"Okay… Liz Forbes wants chicken, Caroline chicken… Joshua Rosza who ever he is wants veggie." Damon told her as he tossed the invites into a pile that had already been sorted through.
"Jane-Anne Deveraux and Monique Deveraux both want chicken, Zach Salvatore is Chicken and Stefan is chicken" Elena stated and then jotted down the results.
"And that is quite the way to fine out that I am not invited" Damon said with a smile as he wasn't listed on invitation.
"Aw don't worry you can be my plus one" Elena told him and then lean over to give him a kiss.
"Sure but I already promised Claire I'd bring her," Damon teased. "She wants chicken by the way."
"I think she will be more interested in the pizza for kids" Elena told with a giggle. "Okay back to work, The Mikaelson's we have Mikael veg, Esther veg, Elijah, Finn, Klaus, Kol, and Rebekah all want chicken."
"And a table to themselves" Damon joked as he looked at the large family.
"Well I think Rebekah and Stefan are going to want to sit together so she will either sit with us or he with her family" Elena said as she tried to seat what the seat placement would be.
"And Klaus better be across the room from Tyler to keep down that drama" Damon reminded her.
"Well seat placement is Jenna's job so I'm not going to worry about it" Elena said with a smile and search through the pile for more invitations.
"Well you're chicken, I'm chicken and Claire is pizza," Damon said as he wrote down their orders.
"Where is Ric's parents invitation" Elena said as she searched through the pile.
Damon looked over at the pile Elena was looking through and it was easy to see that there was more then just wedding invitations mixed in to the pile. "What else do you have here?" Damon asked as he started picking things out.
"Nothing just bills and stuff" Elena said with a sigh as she found what she was looking for and started to open up the invitation for Alaric's parents.
Damon on the other hand kept looking through the pile that wasn't wedding related and then came upon a large envelope. Picking it up it was neither wedding related, nor a bill as his eyes looked at the envelope and saw that the package was from Virginia State University.
"Elena" Damon said as he nervously looked at her while she wasn't paying much attention to him.
"Carol Lockwood is Veg and Tyler Lockwood is Chicken" Elena said ignoring Damon at first and adding to the list.
"Elena!" he repeated.
"What?" she finally said as she looked at him a little annoyed that he seemed to be preoccupied instead of helping her. As her eyes looked up at him she saw Damon holding a large package in his hand.
"What is that?" she asked him as she found herself sitting up straight as her heart was pounding. Her fingers nervously tugged at her jeans as she was starting to guess what was inside it.
"Its from VSU" he told her and watched as Elena nervously stared at the envelope like it could bite her or something. This was the moment she had been waiting for, the letter that would tell her whether or not she would be going to VSU next year with Damon or not. As he held it out to her, Elena continued to stare at it afraid to take it from her because it was all so final when she read the result.
"Come on open it" Damon told her as Elena slowly took the envelope in her hands.
Her heart was pounding, hand shaking as her fingers tried to find the edge to ripe open the end. It was silent in the room and all that could be heard was the sound of the paper of the envelope ripping. Elena started to chew on her bottom lip as the Envelop was now opened completely and she just had to pull the letter out. She could no longer sit and got to her feet as she held the letter in her hands and let the envelope slipped to the floor.
Damon was now on his feet as he too was nervous for the results and stood in front of her as she started to read the letter. He watched as her eyes moved from one side of the page to the other and back. She hadn't said anything for a couple seconds and the suspense was killing him. "Elena?"
"I… I got in," Elena said in shock at first and then a smile crept across her face. "I GOT IN!" she repeated excited this time.
"YOU GOT IN!" Damon repeated as a smile grew on his face.
"I GOT IN!" she squealed and then her arms opened up as she leaped towards him and wrapped her arms around him.
The two had matching smiles as Damon's arms closed around her and started to spin them around in excitement. For months Elena had been stressed out about her applications and it only grew as acceptance letters were starting to be mail out. It was so hard for her to really enjoy her last weeks of school because she was waiting for this letter to come to let her know that next year she wouldn't have to be spending her weekends traveling to see Damon.
Next year the two would study at the same school and both could spend as much time with Claire as they can. After the year they just had the two were so looking forward to living in the same city and as the two hugged it was a little hard to believe. Elena had tears of joy in her eyes as she clung to Damon and her head buried in to the side of his neck and inhaling his scent. She felt her body finally relax from all the stress she had from waiting for this news and Damon could also feel all the tension leave her body. Next year she would be going to VSU and now she could start to enjoy her Graduation, Jenna's wedding and the summer months with her family.