For Heather C.
By Vedesca.
Elena toddled cautiously up the walkway. December had snuck up upon her once again with its soft snow, bitter winds and treacherous ice. Balancing her books on her hip, Elena struggled to open the front door with her gloved fingers.
The house was small but cozy and was more than she and Stefan really needed. Located in New England, they had moved in during the weeks following the night in the clearing. Stefan had taken Elena to choose the location and with the help of Damon's contacts Stefan was able to buy Elena a new life, a new last name and a chance at college. The house was a cape cod with warm brown paint. Elena saw it and fell in love. It wasn't as old as her old home in Fell's Church, but it had character.
Stepping into the hallway, Elena shook the snowflakes out of her blond hair. She looked into the living room, ready to complain about the icy walkway, when a small frown crept across her face.
"Will you stop pacing?" Elena asked.
"I'm not pacing," Stefan said softly, taking a moment to stand still.
"You are pacing."
"A gentleman does not allow others to see him distressed and worried," Stefan replied.
"So you are worried and distressed?" Elena arched an eyebrow. She placed the grocery bag on the floor by her feet. She stepped out of her sneakers and hung her coat on a hook in the closet. She bent forward, grabbing the bag and walked into the kitchen. She heard Stefan follow her.
"You are a sneaky girl," Stefan smiled striding up behind her and wrapping her in his arms.
"In high school they called me manipulative," she said leaning her head back.
"In high school they called me a murderer," Stefan said wryly.
"Glad to see you have finally come to terms with that," Elena smiled halfheartedly. They never spoke much about Elena's final year in high school. Elena always thought that the memories hurt Stefan more than her. The days after Elena's return it became apparent that she would be unable to stay in Virginia. Slowly, like with all teenagers and their friends, she lost touch with Matt, Bonnie and Meredith. The first year she was away they visited her monthly. It was almost as if they believed she would fade away or disappear. Reality soon set in that Elena was there and truly alive and the visits became less frequent as each of them became wrapped up in their own lives. Elena herself made new friends at college. Currently, it had been over a year since she or Stefan had seen anyone, from the old gang that is.
"You were pacing," Elena said, turning around in Stefan's arms to face him.
"I was."
"It's because of Damon isn't it?" she asked, tilting her head back to get a good look at his face. Elena knew that if you could catch Stefan off guard you could get a glimpse through the wall that was always there.
Stefan bent his head and gave her a delicate kiss. "Today is the fourteenth, I thought he would be here by now," Stefan said quietly. Elena took his hand and led him out of the kitchen and back into the living room. She sat down on the velvety brown loveseat. Stefan sat beside her. He placed his arm across the back of the loveseat allowing Elena to rest her head on the shoulder of his thick white sweater.
"Did he tell you he was coming today?" she asked.
"No."
"Did he tell you he was coming at all?"
"No."
"Did he tell you he was coming all the other times he showed up on our doorstep?"
"No," Stefan started, "however, he has always shown up on the fourteenth."
"Stefan." Elena stopped. Damon's visits were an awkward subject as they were random. Elena no longer felt the uncontrollable pull to the older of the brothers, but they did have strong connection. She knew Stefan saw it because he would leave her alone with Damon for hours. Elena knew why Damon came on the fourteenth, but it wasn't her place to tell Stefan.
"This is just his typical selfish behavior," Stefan said, his voice icy.
"Nothing about Damon is typical," Elena said burying her face in Stefan's sweater. Stefan's deep-seated guilt and anger frightened her. She wished that someday soon it would go away before it became his entire world.
*********
Stefan woke up to the blue twilight of the early morning. Elena's body lay beside him, her sleeping undisturbed. He glanced through the darkness at the alarm clock resting on his nightstand.
"Why am I awake so early?" he whispered. Pulling back the covers, he slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Elena. Stefan pulled on his robe and stepped into his slippers before leaving the room.
Noiselessly he descended down the stairs and into the kitchen. A distinct melody was being hummed in the back yard. Stefan turned the handle on the back door and stepped out onto the show covered patio.
"Hello little brother," Damon stepped out from the shadows. He was clothed in black wool trousers and a long leather jacket.
"You're late, Damon," Stefan said icily.
"Poor Stefan, incorrect as usual," Damon smiled. "I came exactly when I intended too."
"Elena missed you. She won't say it but she needed you today, I hate it but it is true. You understand her in a way I never will. You have a bond with her that I cannot break," Stefan crossed his arms in front of him.
"Little brother, do you plan on getting anything correct this evening?" Damon inquired playfully.
"I am not in the mood to play your games, you let her down. She won't let me see it but I know it is there. If you can't continue to do something that you started, it would be best if you left us alone forever," Stefan turned away from his brother and headed back to the door.
"I'm going to give you a gift," Damon said. Stefan could hear the restrained emotion in Damon's voice.
"What could you possibly give me?" Stefan sneered.
"Something that will change your relationship with Elena," Damon answered closing in on his brother.
"And how are you going to change my relationship?" Stefan asked sarcastically.
"Knowledge," Damon answered. He stepped closer to Stefan, their faces inches apart, "but I warn you, interrupt me again and I shall leave you wanting."
Stefan spoke after a beat, "I'm listening."
"Elena, your dear damsel in distress, is perfectly fine. She doesn't need me to be here on this day. She died for a noble cause and she celebrates everyday that she was given another chance at life. She isn't hiding anything from you, what you think is there, isn't." Damon paused briefly.
"You needed me here. You can choose to deny it if you would like, but the sooner you accept it the better off you will be. The fourteenth of December is a day of agony in which you relive the loss of your true love. You need me to be here so that you don't have to go through it alone. You need me little brother. I arrived when I did this year for one simple reason. It is time for you to grow up. If you keep wallowing in your own pain and agony over a death that was rescinded, you are going to lose that girl sleeping upstairs and you never know who may scoop her up. She's alive and yet you feel guilty for her death. You hate me because I have a 'bond' with her but you fail to see that the bond is you."
Stefan stood agape, his brother's words repeating over and over in his head. He stood silent, staring into Damon's black eyes. The minutes passed as Stefan analyzed the truth and his brother's motives. He knew that Damon wasn't trying to spare him pain; he was trying to spare Elena from a path she might take if things progressed. Elena wouldn't stay to watch him self-destruct, she would try to help and she would fail and she would leave and it would kill her.
"Thank you," Stefan's voice was barely audible.
"Think of me as the Ghost of Christmas Future," Damon shrugged.
"You really have changed," Stefan smiled.
"Perhaps, maybe I was just in the giving spirit." Damon's voice was soft. "Or maybe I made a promise to her that I intend to keep."
"Damon, I-"
"Little brother, return to your bed and your soon to be wife, we are finished here," Damon sighed.
*********
Stefan crept back into the silent bedroom. Shedding his robe he slid back beneath the covers. He rested his head on the pillow as Elena rolled over. She laid her head on his chest; his arm instinctively pulled her closer.
"You're cold," she murmured.
"I was outside."
"Everything okay?" she asked.
"It will be," he said into her hair.
"You worry me sometimes," Elena opened her eyes to look at Stefan. "I love you."
"I love you too," Stefan replied.
"Damon is full of surprises, isn't he?" she asked.
Stefan looked at Elena. Her nonchalant question didn't surprise him, "Yes he is." Stefan kissed the top of Elena's head, "Let's get some sleep before sunrise," he suggested.
Elena didn't answer, she was fast asleep.
The End
Back to the main page.
Disclaimer: the characters, fictional settings, and universes created by L. J. Smith are copyright © Lisa J. Smith, Daniel Weiss Associates, Inc. and their affiliates. This fan-created site, along with the stories it houses, means no infringement upon any trademark, copyright, or other legal binding. This archive claims no rights to any of the stories collected here.