If You Love Her Let Her Go

8. The Salvatore School

Elena's POV
I sat in the car tapping my feet as Hayley pulled up to the familiar house. There were slight changes but overall this was still the house I stood outside of and told Stefan I loved him. It was still the house we made love in. It was still the Salvatore Boarding House.

We walked up the small path and walked through the doors. I hardly remembered Hayley and the girls were with me as I looked around the house and saw my life. It was right here where I first met Katherine and a few feet up is where I saw Stefan for who he truly was.

"Welcome" I jumped and my eyes focused on Stefan who was standing right there. "Elena" I smiled and we hugged. "I missed you so much" I smiled into his shoulder "I kissed you too Stefan". Hayley walked up to Stefan and sighed "we need to enroll the girls in" Stefan smiled and turned on his heel. We walked into his office and sat down in the chairs. The girls sat on the floor leaning on the wall.

"We know you'll take care of the girls and that this is the best place for them. They're different Stefan but you raised all three of these girls" Hayley said. Stefan smiled "don't worry I've been waiting for this day since I opened the school up. They're practically already enrolled I just have to make them a schedule" Stefan stood up and walked over to the girls "do you guys want to meet my favorite person here?" The three of them nodded and followed Stefan out of the office and into the front yard.

I sighed and Hayley grabbed my hand "they'll be safe here Elena, we won't have to worry Stefan gots this" I smiled at her and we went to go find them. When we got outside the girls were talking to a little blonde haired girl. "Whose that?" I asked walking up to Stefan "Elizabeth she's Caroline's kid" I smiled thinking of Caroline as a mom.

I turned my head slightly to see Hayley leaning on Stefan. He kissed the top of her head and a sense of Deja vu ran through me. It was weird and selfish of me. I didn't want to be with Stefan but I didn't want him to be with anyone else either. It was strange because if you asked me if I was in love with Stefan I would say no but the long answer is yes because I always will. No matter who I am with I will always think of Stefan as mine which is selfish and probably sounds really dumb.

For example I only wanted Klaus but I still didn't want Stefan to be with someone. He and Hayley were whispering in each other's ears and I smiled walking away slowly. I'm sure they noticed I just hope they don't follow.

I walked down the familiar streets of my childhood. I made the familiar route to Caroline's house to see all the lights off except the living room lights. I smiled and knocked on her door. To my surprise she didn't answer the door but a random girl holding a baby did. I tried to brush my shock off as I walked away and ran. I ran so fast that by the time I realized I didn't know where to go my feet had stopped.

It stopped at the most familiar place in Mystic Falls. The White House on Maple Street, only it was no longer white but just a big black square in the ground. I felt a hot tear run down my face. Why was I crying? Why did I even leave the Boarding School? "You alright?".

"I will be I just need a moment" I took a deep breath and checked my phone, still nothing from Klaus. I turned towards the guy and smiled "sorry don't worry about me I'm okay just... overwhelmed" he smiled "have a good night" I nodded at him and walked back.

I smiled thinking of my children and then I thought of my childhood. I wonder where all my friends where? Where was Jeremy? As I walked back to the School Hayley was leaning against the car waiting for me I assumed "the girls are all registered and waiting for their goodbye from you" I smiled "be right back".

I walked up the narrow familiar staircase. I was going up to Stefan's room. In it the girls were sitting on the one bed talking. "Hey" they all smiled at me "Dad is letting us stay here until we get our official room" when Maya said dad I thought of Klaus but I assume she mean Stefan. "Well I've gotta go but I just wanted to say goodbye and how much I love you guys".

They hugged me and I smiled kissing all three of their heads "will we be able to come home on holidays?" I smiled at Hope "yeah if it's safe" "and if it isn't?" I sighed "we'll work it out. I promise" we said a final goodbye and I walked down the stairs to go back outside.

"Ready?" Hayley asked smiling "as I'll ever be" she smiled and got in the car. I walked towards the car and stopped when I heard a familiar voice "we're you really going to leave without saying goodbye?" I turned slowly to see Bonnie, Jeremy, Caroline, Matt, Damon, Stefan, and Alaric standing there. "Guys?" They smiled and I ran to them.

We hugged and I felt home. For the first time in a long time I felt well not safe but stable. I felt the tears run down as we let go just so that Bonnie, Care, and I could hug. I thought of Klaus and I longed to be in his arms, but for now this is what I needed. My family.

This is the end of this half of the book. Next half will be a little montage recap and then season five 💜