Remember Me – Epilogue-

One Year Later….

Dear to whomever finds this,

I bet you're a bit surprised that I'd leave something like this here. But, I knew that someone would have to come back here and pack everything up. I'm sorry if I left things a mess. I didn't really have the time to come back due to you know…Being dead and all.

Honestly, I don't really know where to start with this and I feel like I should list who I want to talk about. So, here it goes. I'll try not to leave anyone out. But, let's be honest, if I forgot to talk about you- we either never liked one another OR you tried to sabotage my life and my career. Also, if your wondering why I didn't write one of these for my parents- let me tell you this- I tried and it was too hard to do. Not to say that these letters were any easier to write. Because, they sure as hell weren't. But, if it's you, mom or if dad found this. I want you both to know that I love you and that I thank you for raising me into a good human being. I'm sorry for all the pain in the ass things I did to hurt you both. But, I hope that you're proud of me and the things I did to your business. I tried my best dad. Now, it's all in Damon's hands….Enjoy big brother!

Firstly, let's start with…..

1. Rebecca.

Shocking….I know.

It's strange isn't it? Talking about my ex wife in a good bye letter. But, I promise that I'll keep it brief.

Rebecca,

I never thought I'd be saying this. But, thank you.

Thank you for beginning everything.

I know that we had our ups and downs and tough times. Also, that we didn't really get along a lot of the time after the divorce. However, my life with you before everything went down hill- wasn't all that bad. I'm going to miss you and your competitive spirit. I'm going to miss your excitement around the big things in life and your sense of adventure. I hope that you find everything that you're looking for and lastly, thank you for Duke. He's the best thing that I had received out of my time with you and I will forever be grateful for that.

I'm sorry that he's gone though. I'm sorry that I didn't take care of him like I had promised you that I would.

2. Klaus and Caroline

Dear Klaus Caroline,

Where do I even begin?

My old friend, Klaus. You have been my confidant and one of the best friend's a guy like me could have asked for. I wouldn't be where I am without you. I'm going to miss you more than you will ever know. But, I know that you and Caroline will take care of one another. Please do. Be good to her, like you always have been and remember to love each other. Don't ever take each other for granted.

My sweet Caroline,

Thank you. My dear oldest and greatest friend. I know that we have had our ups and downs. But, I have always held a special place in my heart for you and you have always meant the world to me. I know that things didn't really turn out the way you thought that they would with us. However, watching you fall in love with Klaus. I'm glad that things turned into the opposite. He's amazing for you and you're the best thing that has ever happened to him. I guess we will see each other one day again. In the mean time, don't ever forget to be yourself and love deeply. I'm going to miss you and I know that you're going to miss me. But, remember that I'll be looking down upon you, Caroline. I'll be making sure that you aren't getting into too much trouble. ?

I love you both with all of my heart.

Love, Stefan.

3. Damon and Katherine

Dear Katherine,

I bet that you thought I was going to forget you?

Ha! Trust me….I know that you'd probably go to my grave and stomp on it with your jimmy choo heels if I did and I really don't want to be haunting your ass! I love you, Katherine and I want to thank you for being my support system. For forcing me to pull myself together and try to win the love of my life back. I will forever be in debt to you for helping me with the things that you did. It's because of you and Damon that Elena and I ended up reuniting again. Also, thank you for being the best Aunt that Ben could have asked for. Not only am I placing my son's future in Elena's hands. But, I am placing it in yours as well. Look after my little boy, Katherine. Keep him safe and please, make sure that he's happy.

I love you, Katherine Pierce- Salvatore. You've made me a better person and for that, I will forever be grateful.

Dear Damon,

I wanted to keep yours for last. But, I knew that you'd probably be getting anxious to see what I'd write to you. So, I bumped it up a few instead. You're welcome, brother!

Growing up, you were always the one that I looked up to. And then when Dad tried to decide who to hand over the business to. I was seriously hoping that he was going to give you all of SD Realty to you. Although, as we know, it didn't really turn out that way and you became my wingman. Regardless, you've been the best business partner and my best friend throughout all of this and I will never be able to repay you for any of it. Thank you for putting up with my drunken ass on times that I couldn't even pull myself together either.

Damon, thank you brother. Thank you for looking after me when I thought I was going to lose my mind after Rebekah left. Thank you for opening my eyes to how much Elena and I were meant to be. Thank you for shaping me into a good hearted human being instead of the asshole that I had started to become right after Rebekah left me. I never thought I was going to recover from losing her and being left in that damn house. But, you pulled me out of it and changed my perspective.

I love you doesn't even cover how much you mean to me and how much I'm going to miss you. Look after one another, Damon. Keep Katherine close and surround yourself with everyone good in our lives and in yours because after I'm gone. You're going to need their support.

Until we meet again, brother.

I love you with my whole heart. Love, your pain in the ass little brother and the reason you probably have some gray hairs…..Stefan.

4. Elena

My dearest Elena,

I've said goodbye to you more than once before. But, this time….It's different.

There's not going to be anymore coming back together and apologizing. There won't be anymore kisses in the dark and tracing each other's skin in the moonlight. There won't be anymore crying in each other's arms because we both know that we can't live without one another.

So, this goodbye is harder. This one is final and I don't know how to start nor do I even want to say goodbye to you because all that means is that it's over.

I love you, Elena.

But, you already know that.

I chose you and that choice lead me to make some of the biggest decisions of my life. However, I know that without a doubt in my mind, you were the best choice that I had ever made. You gave me a gorgeous little boy and a lifetime full of memories. Because of you, I wanted to be a better man and prove to myself that I could open my heart up to love after having been so broken by Rebekah. Our love didn't come easily. I'm sorry for everything I did to hurt you and I'm sorry that I tried to take away Jenna's salon- it wasn't right and it's one of my biggest regrets. God, we both know that you and I challenged each other and tested one another to no end. Although, I couldn't have asked for a better love than yours.

Thank you for giving me your delicate heart and letting me love it so tenderly.

Thank you, Elena for loving such a fucked up and selfish man.

I want you to be happy, baby. I want you to fall in love again and fill the house with laughter and maybe one day some more little footsteps that will be a part of you. Please don't forget me though. Please, remember me whenever the sun hits your face and warmth of the glow makes you smile.

Take care of yourself, Elena. And, take care of him too. Our little boy is going to need is mother and even though things didn't turn out the way we both wanted them to. You and I growing old together in our beautiful house. I know in my heart that you and Ben are going to be okay.

I love you, Mrs. Elena Gilbert- Salvatore. With all my heart and soul.

Love always, your loving husband, Stefan.

5. Ben

Dearest Ben,

I've tried so hard to form my thoughts into words when I decided to write this. However, words seem to fail me. I don't want to say goodbye to you son, especially since I still have so many moments in your life to experience with you. However, I'm afraid that this is the end and I won't be coming back this time. I know that you won't understand my words for quite some time. So, I'm hoping that once you're older that your mom will give you this letter to read.

Take care of her, Ben. You'll be the man of the house now and I need you to watch over your mother. Because, she's going to need you as much as you will need her. Be kind and good to one another. Be supportive and don't argue with her- she's already been through so much. If you do find yourself arguing with your mom. Make sure that you apologize before going to sleep- no one wants to go to bed angry.

Know that I loved you. I don't want you to ever question that or think that I didn't. I have loved you since the first time I held you in my arms and I've never stopped loving you.

Benjamin Salvatore.

Carry that name with pride in your heart and know that even though I won't be right beside you anymore. I'll be watching over you. You're going to be an amazing young man and you're going to make your mother and myself very proud. There isn't anything in this world that you could do that would disappoint us.

I love you, Ben.

I love you and it has been a privilege being your father.

Love always, Dad.

Wiping away my tears, I exhale deeply while placing the letter down on the counter. I came here alone, to miss him. To grieve. God, I miss him more than anything or anyone in this world. Closing my eyes, I stand in the kitchen that was once filled with laughter and life. The kitchen where he stood in front of me with pleading eyes, asking me to stay with him- for the millionth time in our relationship all those years ago. It was almost as if he knew that us being together would shape and change both of us beyond anything either one of us could have imagined. He made me want to be a better person, a better mother- a better woman.

My hand glides against the marble countertop, so many memories consume me.

The thoughts of Stefan are overwhelming as I make my way through the house, glancing at a picture and every so often, turning the corner in hopes of him being there, waiting for me. But, I know that I'm fooling myself in that regard. The only thing that lives on now is the foundation in which Damon opened for cancer research and young entrepreneurs like Stefan and his brother had been when they had been going to college. The Stefan Salvatore Foundation will hopefully change the lives of young men and help find a cure for cancer. It's also a great way for Ben and I to remember his late father and all the wonderful things that he was apart of in this world.

Making my way into his bedroom, I glance around the room with it's cream colored walls and boxes packed up to the ceiling. Katherine and Damon had packed up mostly everything after Stefan's death. But, they couldn't get themselves through the rest of it without sobbing. So, that's why it's taken so long for any of us to come back here and do something about the boxes. Not only that, the house is for sale in a few short weeks and we need to get it ready to be placed on the market. Closing my eyes, I bend down to scan my eyes through one of the boxes in front of me when suddenly, the doorbell rings.

Inhaling through gritted teeth, I stand up on shaky legs. I wasn't expecting any visitors and as far as I know, everyone that knows that I'm here has told me that they're okay with me doing this all on my own- saying my final farewell to my beloved husband.

I catch a glimpse of my messy hair in the mirror as I stop to fix it real quick and the knocking and doorbell ringing continue excessively.

"I'm on my way!" I shout out, hurriedly fixing my clothes and placing my hand on the doorknob before giving it one big pull.

She smiles at me, the little old lady and a much younger gentleman with light green eyes. His gaze reminds me of Stefan's and for a moment, I've lost all my words and the ability to form sentences.

"We're so sorry to intrude, ma'am." He comments, smiling as he places his hand on the elderly woman beside him.

"Can I help you?" I ask, trying to understand what the two random strangers are doing in front of the house.

"If you're wanting to know about the house and when it'll be up for sale. I can reassure you that-." He cuts me off, chuckling a little as he waves his hand and shakes his head.

"No. No, that's not why we're here…" His voice trails off as he licks his bottom lip.

"It's something else entirely…" His voice trials off as he tries to explain. "You see, my grandmother and I. We…Well, we found this dog roaming around the streets a few nights ago and he's in my car. Chewing on my seatbelt and slobbering all over the interior leather. Anyways, he has a microchip and it led us here. To you and to…Shit, I can't remember his name! Look," He pauses for a minute, attempting to remember why he was here and who he was asking for. When all of a sudden he says. "Oh yes! That's right, I was wondering if I could speak with a Stefan Salvatore?" The moment he says the words "Dog" and "Stefan" in the same sentence, I nearly lose it. My eyes well up with tears as I place my hands in front of my mouth and attempt to stifle my cries. The older woman jabs her grandson in the ribs harder than expected as she says in a stern town. "Now, Andrew! Look what you did. You made the young woman cry. For God sakes, son!"

I laugh a little, smiling through my tears as I glance at them both and my voice cracks. "It's okay. Honestly. I just…Stefan was my husband and I lost him a little over a year ago. And, from the way you described him, the dog that's in your car. At least, the one that I think it is..He's part of my family and I never thought I was going to see him again." I'm choking back tears as the young man softly whispers how sorry he is for my loss and the sweet old grandmother guides me out to the car, telling me that before they brought the dog over that they fed him and gave him a much needed bath. She adds in that Andrew, her grandson, has been keeping an eye on the dog over the last few days.

The instant we step towards it, I see his light brown head and dark floppy ears perk up. "You can let him out." I comment, my hands shaking as the two look at me for reassure when I nod my head. "It's okay. I know the dog. I know him too well, in fact. He wasn't just my husband's. He was mine too."

Andrew steps towards the car door, flinging the backseat open to the black BMW and I'm filled with memories as I close my eyes and feel something lick my hands. He's barking anxiously, his tail wagging incisively as I bend down and pet him. I'm full on crying while he licks my face and continues his barking. I can hear them both asking in the background if they're sure that I know the light haired German Shepard in front of me and with complete confidence I nod, pulling him against my chest after he's calmed down for a bit. They're both silent as they watch him lick my face and as the wind blows through my hair and the warm sun hits my face. The memories of Stefan come flooding back. I whisper ever so softly into the dog's floppy dark ears. "He's gone, Duke. But, I'm so happy that you're here. I'm so happy that you're home. I think he sent you back to me because he knew how much we needed you. I know he did. I'm so glad to have you back. Welcome home, Duke. I've missed you so much." With tears in my eyes, I let them fall as I glance up at the bright blue Floridian sky and thank him, for everything that he's ever given me, for loving me endlessly. For bringing a missing piece of my life back home to me and to Ben. home. "Thank you, Stefan. For bringing him home." I whisper out as I clutch on to Duke's fur and feel him nuzzle into me while I speak to him softly. "We're going to be okay, Duke. I promise. You, Ben and I. We're all going to be okay." I watch as Andrew and his Grandmother quietly get back into the black BMW and I watch as they drive away, telling me to take care. Duke and I are left all alone, in the middle of the driveway, holding on to one another. Grateful for each other. Ready for whatever our future holds.

-THE END!-

A/N: Thank you all for loving Must Love Dogs and this sequel as much as I have loved writing it. I hope you enjoyed the ending to this one, even though it was fairly sad. I brought back, Duke and I kind of felt like it made everything come back a bit full circle to when we were first introduced to him in Must Love Dogs. Anyways, thank you all for reading!