'Hey Stef Can't wait for tonight. Let me know when you're coming over. E x'

For the hundredth time that day he had read that text and smiled. He was really looking forward to the party tonight at Carolines, but he was looking forward to it more after his chat with Damon. Thinking back to it, he wondered whether what Damon said was right.

"I just don't know what to do Damon. What do I do? Do I go for it or do I just leave? I've only just managed to get her trust back!" Stefan had asked his after explaining what almost happened at Elena's house.

"Just go for it. I know for a fact that you like her and from what you told me she likes you too! What's to go wrong here? You both like each other, just get all of this sexual tension out of the way and get together already!" He answered walking away. "Oh and some advice. Don't screw it up this time." He called back.

Stefan could not help but laugh at Damon's bit of advice. Of course he would never screw it up this time! He wouldn't even dare after what happened! Looking at himself again in the mirror like he had done for the last hour, he smoothed down his shirt, took in a deep breathe and started to make his way towards Elena's.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Elena had just finished getting ready when the door bell rang. Racing down the stairs her heart leapt in her chest as she opened the door to see Stefan standing in the door way.

"Wow. You look amazing" Was all Stefan could say. She was standing infront of him wearing an emerald green dress, short at the front, long at the back and a gold belt around the waist. Her hair was loosely curled and dropped down over her shoulders where a simple gold necklace hung around her neck. Stefan noticed that it was the one he had got her for christmas last year. She looked perfect and he could not help but grin. He could not believe his luck. She was stunning.

Elena answered back at him with a blush. "Thanks. Well you don't look so bad yourself." They moved into a hug and stood there, moulding into one another. Stefan inhaled slightly. She smelt amazing. Once parting, Stefan smiled and asked

"Did you want to get going?" With that Elena nodded and they headed out to the party.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Caroline's party was amazing! It was filled with people that went to their school and some that they didn't know. Walking into the hall way, Elena noticed that Caroline had managed to hire a DJ! Looking around everyone was clearly having a great time. Elena could tell that she was going to have a great time tonight and moved to talk to Stefan when she heard Caroline shouting from the other side of the room.

"ELENA!" She shouted and moved towards Stefan and Elena. Elena braced herself and hugged Elena when she arrived. "How awesome is this party! I'm so glad you could make it."

"Glad you invited us!" Elena started. "Where is everyone?"

"They are in the crowd over there" She answered pointing to the large crowd of people dancing next to the DJ. "..and drinks are over there." she said pointing to the kitchen.

Elena nodded "Well, first things first, I need to get rid of my coat. Mind if leave it in your room?" she asked.

"Not a problem. See you in a bit." She answered. When Elena left, Caroline moved on to Stefan. "So... how's things between you and Elena lately?" she asked with a grin on her face.

"Not bad thanks. We're not like we used to be but... we're getting there." He answered reading Caroline's face. Clearly she knew something that he didn't. "What?" He asked

"Nothing... I just... I'm just glad you two are friends again. It was quite wierd you two not being together all of the time." She answered.

"I know. I really missed her. But I had to let her decide what was going on. I didn't want to rush her into being friends with me again if she hated me." He stated. Caroline smiled.

"She would never hate you Stefan. I wouldn't allow it! Do you think you two will get together again?" She asked knowing full well that she was asking the same question he asked Elena.

Stefan chuckled "I would like to. I really care about her, but like I said. I can't force her... I really like her Caroline. I just... hope she likes me back. I don't want to instigate anything if she didn't feel the same."

This time Caroline gleamed. She knew something was going to happen tonight and she was going to make sure it did. "Believe me Stefan. She really does like you. She just got hurt, but a couple like you and Elena don't come along often. You two are perfect for each other. I think you should definitely do something about it."

Stefan laughed and gave Caroline a hug. "Okay thanks Caroline. I needed to hear that."

"You're very welcome." She answered just in time for Elena to start walking down the stairs and started to walk towards Stefan and Caroline. "Alright let's go" She said and started to walk into the living room with Stefan and Caroline following.

Hearing the sound of dubstep filling up the house, Elena started to tap her foot to the beat of the music playing and started to walk towards the middle of the room to dance with everyone else. That was until she felt a hand on her back and a whisper in her ear.

"No way. Not until you get me drunk enough." Stefan laughed smoothly into her ear. With this Elena smiled, ran to the nearest vodka bottle and started pouring shots.

"Oh come on Stefan! You love to dance." She pouted

"Yes. But only when I've had a few. I'm really not that great of a dancer and you know it." He retorted.

Knowing that Stefan was not going to join her unless convinced, Elena started to think of a way to convince him to dance. Looking at the big bottle of vodka in her hands, held it in front of her like she was showing a prize on a show. "Make you a deal Salvatore. One shot, one dance. Deal?" She smirked. Stefan stared at her thinking up his options. Smiling he answered grabbing a shot glass

"Deal." They poured their drinks, downed the shots in seconds and Stefan grabbed another shot for him and Elena. "Two dances now" He smirked back. He quite liked drinking with Elena but he had to play it safe and go at her pace. She was light weight compared to him. She giggled, clinked his glass and shot the drink back as if it was water. Laughing at Stefan's shocked face, she grabbed his hand and dragged him to the dance floor with the dubstep beat filling the house. When reaching the made-up dance floor in the middle of the crowd, Elena and Stefan started to dance with the small space they had accumulated next to Caroline, Tyler, Matt and Bonnie. Five dances and too many vodka shots later due to Elena nabbing the next few dances, Elena and Stefan were still dancing. The crowd of people started to increase meaning less space for everyone to dance and they both got almost crushed together. But they did not mind. Despite people talking and dancing with them all night, Stefan and Elena were in their own world. They only had eyes for each other and were dancing closer together. Giving a slight glance to his friends, he saw Caroline next to Elena give him a nod as if to say 'You're okay. Go for it'. giving him the confidence he needed.

With this, Stefan grabbed Elena's waist and pulled her close to him to the point where their bodies were touching. Elena didn't seem to mind and snaked her arms around his neck with her head facing down while she danced with him to beat of the music clearly at least tipsy. Staring down at Elena, he placed his head on her forehead while they were dancing, while his fingers laid on her chin. Lifting up her chin, they were staring at each other with their faces millimeters from each other.

"You look so beautiful Elena." He said to her making Elena start to blush. She had not been this close to Stefan since... that night and memories of that night were flooding back. She did not know whether it was her mind that clouded by vodka or the fact that she really was enjoying dancing this close to Stefan with her arms around him but she placed one of her hands on his face and smiled as if it was an invitation. She closed her eyes and suddenly felt something brush her lips. It was soft, warm and felt somewhat right. Opening her eyes she saw Stefan's face very close to hers. He had kissed her. All of Elena's body shivered from the touch and was left wanting more, so she lent forward and brushed her lips with his as if to tell him that she wanted it too. Stefan, taken by surprise, moved in closer and deepened the kiss. His arms snaked around her body covering her back and neck while she was trying to concentrate on what she was doing. This felt right. She didn't want to move right now. She was wanted to be right there dancing and kissing Stefan forever. Despite it being a perfect moment, it had to end. Stefan moved his head to her ear and whispered to her

"I really wanted to do that again with you."

"Me too" She answered. And she meant it. This time they were kissing knowing full well what was going on and they didn't want it to stop. "Do you want to get out of here?" Elena asked

Stefan just nodded his head, grabbed her hand and started to drag her towards the front door. Elena looked back to see Caroline, Bonnie, Tyler and Matt staring at her and Stefan leaving. They could not believe what was going on! Caroline was gleaming at Elena as if in victory and Elena gleamed back at them.

Stefan and Elena held hands while walking all the way home. Stefan, as ever the polite gentleman, offered to walk Elena back to her house since it wasn't far and he didn't want her going back by herself. On the outside he was calm and collected, talking to Elena about anything and everything, but on the inside he was bursting with pride. He had kissed Elena and she didn't turn him down! He could not believe it and he really wanted to do it again. Walking Elena up to her front door he saw his opportunity.

"So... about earlier." He started to ask

"What about earlier?" She asked

"What did that mean to you? Because to me, it meant everything"

"Really?" Elena started to blush and gripped Stefan's hand tighter

"Yeah it really did. I really would like to take you out one night this week. I mean properly. See how things go maybe?" He asked nervously

"Well... tonight meant a lot to me too... and I liked it." She answered making Stefan smile. "I would like that Stefan."

Stefan beamed "Great. But let's take it slow. If you don't like it, we can just go back to being friends?"

"I don't think there is a way we could go back to being friends after this Stefan. Too much has already happened. I mean we kissed at my birthday party, we slept together and you ran because you were nervous about how I would react and we kissed again tonight. To be honest... I don't want to be just friends with you anymore Stefan. You've never been just a best friend to me." Elena answered releasing a large breathe she didn't know she had taken in. She felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders saying that but was replaced with fear that Stefan wouldn't feel the same.

Stefan walked closer to her, still holding her hand, to the point that their noses were almost touching. "I don't want to be just friends anymore. I just want to do this" He said moving his head south to make contact with Elena's lips. They were just like they were before. Soft, warm and familiar. Stefan left a soft kiss on Elena's lips only hovering there a few moments to place another one on her lips. Elena's breathe hitched and the feel of his lips on hers. She had thought about this moment for a while now and it was much more than she expected. Electricity was running through her body igniting every nerve ending. Everything was heightened and it was all because of Stefan. Feeling another soft kiss on her lips, she placed a hand on the back of his head and held it there to make sure Stefan did not move so she could deepen the kiss. She had never felt anything like it before. Yeah, she had kissed guys before but she had not felt anything like this. Stars appeared across her closed eyes as she wrapped herself around Stefan holding him as close as she physically could. Only the need for air broke the two of them apart.

"Would you like to come inside?" Elena panted

"Only if you want me to." He answered. With that Elena smiled in a way that said 'yes' and grabbed him hand to drag him inside the house.