While everyone was slowly getting back to their normal selves after the big fright, Stefan was about to have his first conversation with Elena since he learned that she had tried to kill his niece.

"What is it Stefan, I've been trying to call you for the past few days..." She said as soon as he arrived.

Now that he thought about it, Stefan didn't feel any love left for her. He actually had a hard time believing that he had once upon a time loved her at all.

"We need to talk Elena..." He said with a grave face.

"What is it?" She asked, serious too.

Now came the hard part, making her think that he still loved her even though he didn't.

"Elena, you know that I love you right?"

"Of course I do Stefan... I love you too. Why do I sense a 'but' coming?" She asked him.

"You have to understand that my niece almost died and I wasn't there for her and my brother... I'm tired of fighting with my flesh and blood Elena..." Stefan said, following the speech plan he had created earlier with Caroline, Damon and Rachel.

"What does this have to do with us?" She asked him.

"I'm so sorry Elena, I love you but I think that we need to take some time apart, give me the opportunity to bond again with my family..." Stefan told her, doing his best to look sad.

"But, why do you have to break up with me to do that?" She asked him, looking sincerely lost.

"You don't like them and they don't trust you Elena... I'm tired of having to feel like I'm in two different sides of a war... Please just let me go...for now." He begged her.

"For now?" She asked him.

"Yes, I'll come back to you some day, I promise you... As soon as I can, I will come back to you. You know that I love you way too much to stay away..." From the look on her face, Stefan knew that he was doing it right.

"But...You'll come back to me soon right?" she asked him.

"Yes Elena, I will. I love you... But look at it on the bright side, if Klaus plans anything against you, I'll be the first to find out about it and I'll be able to warn you." He said, knowing that this would convince her.

"Always protecting me... Thank you Stefan, I love you." Elena said hugging him.

"I have to go now, Caroline is hosting a peaceful tea party for Damon and I." Stefan said before he kissed her for the last time on the forehead and turned to leave.

"Caroline is hosting a tea party?" Elena asked, surprised.

"Yes, I think that she's trying to be original." Stefan chuckled before he left, knowing that he had done a good job at convincing Elena that he would remain on her side despite the distance.

.

Caroline decided that since they all almost died, they needed a party to celebrate life. She decided that this party would be all girl and invited Lexi to come along. She sent her a letter explaining the recent events and Lexi called her with a new, functioning, phone to tell her that she would come.

There wouldn't be that many people, just the 5 'sleeping beauties' like they called themselves now to de-dramatise the situation, Jenna and Lexi. Caroline almost invited Bonnie and Elena, out of habit, before she caught herself and remembered that she had almost died because of them. He best friends were now the enemy.

Everything was set right on time and the girls had the Boarding house all to themselves.

"Where is your father Rachel?" Lexi asked him.

She had just learned that he was with Rebekah now and tried to hide her disappointment.

"Playing poker with Alaric, Stefan, Klaus, Kol, Finn and Elijah." Rachel replied.

"They're having a boy's night in since we're having a girl's night in." Santana chuckled.

The night went on pretty well.

Jenna didn't feel bad at all about having accepted the invitation. She was still young and liked being reminded of that. She also felt like Elena was pulling away from her and Jeremy every day. She knew now that it was probably in her Petrova doppelganger nature but having a good night of fun still felt good. If Jeremy and Alaric knew where she was, Elena thought that she was simply at a college friend's place. She always tried to control everything, even her authority figures and Jenna felt like all she did lately was argue and fight with Elena. This night out felt good. It reminded her that she was not that old and that she could still have fun and be around younger people without arguing about chores, curfew and attitude.

They drank, they ate, they laughed, they played Truth or Dare and Never have I ever...

They even sang.

Rachel sang Diamonds are a girl's best friend. Of course it reminded them of what Katherine had done and they talked a bit about that after wards. Then the girls all sang together Locked out of heaven.

Besides celebrating Life, this party was also to say goodbye to Sage who was planning on going to travel a bit with Finn. They assured everyone that they wouldn't go far until Katherine was caught but they felt like they needed some time alone and nobody could be mad at them for this. Everybody understood.

"So Rachel, how does it feel to know that Rebekah will be your mother in law some day?" Lexi asked Rachel.

"It's not so bad... It will be weird though because I'll become her sister in law too." Rachel replied in a chuckle.

"We're one big weird family." Santana added, hugging Rachel to her side happily.

"But a family none the less." Sage added with a soft smile.

She loved seeing Rachel happy, it reminded her of the sweet little girl she had fallen for in that mall, all those years ago.

What did you think?

I'm sorry I didn't update sooner... I've been through a bad break up and it stopped my inspiration for a while. DOn't worry though, I'm strong and I'm fine. I'm writing again. I hope you liked this chapter. Next one Tyler does something stupid...

Review please?

Lorelei Candice Black