Our Future

Chapter 40

Elena's POV

Elena:"Oh my god, Stefan."

    I took a step forward, going in to hold him as tight as I could, but her took a few steps back.

Elena:"Stefan, it's me."

Stefan:"No. You're not real. You died."

Elena:"Stefan, I don't know what happened. Maybe Klaus' sacrifice didn't work. I need to see Lexi. Where is she?"

Caroline:"Elena."

    I looked over Stefan's shoulder and saw Caroline with a confused and almost hurt look on her face.

Stefan:"That isn't Elena, Caroline. This can't be real. My wife died eleven years ago."

Caroline:"Stefan-"

Elena:"Eleven years?"

    I was confused y his statement. I had only been gone a couple of hours.

Elena:"Stefan, I've only been gone a couple of hours."

    Caroline and Stefan looked me straight in the eyes and I could tell they were just as confused with the situation as I was, but I looked back at Stefan and was able to locked my gaze with his.

Elena:"Let's just go find our little girl and tell her that everything is going to be okay. That we'll always be a family, and I get to be there with both of you every step go the way."

    I reach to out to touch his hand, pushing all of the confusion of what small conversation we just had, out of the window. Just before our hands can meet I hear footsteps come down the stairs and a voice I've never heard before along with those steps.

Lexi:"Dad, can we talk?"

    I turn to see the owner of that voice, and the first thing I see is long brown hair and following the pair of green eyes I would know anywhere. In that moment I realize my beautiful little girl was now grown up and no loner the 7 year old daughter I had to say goodbye to.

Elena:"Lexi?"

Bonnie:"Oh my god."

Lexi:"Mom? Mom!"

    Her shock turned into the biggest smile I had ever seen, and she immediately started to run toward me. Before she could get too far Stefan had sped in front of her, able to stop her in her tracks.

Lexi:"What are you doing?"

    Annoyed and frustrated, she tried to make her way around Stefan, but he wouldn't budge.

Stefan:"Lexi, that isn't your mom."

Lexi:"You're crazy. That's mom!"

    She tries to make her way past Stefan once more but he holds her back by holding her in his arms.

Lexi:"What are you doing?! Let me go! DAD, LET ME GO!"

    Hearing the commotion coming from the living room, a group of people come running in. Gasps, and the same questions are over lapped again and again for only a couple of seconds. I looked over each face in the group. It put a smile on my face to see my family all together; although their shocked faces and glimmering eyes made me question everything once more. I can see Matt and Stefan share a look, a look that can only mean 'get her out of here'. Matt walks over to me and hugs me tight and then holds me lightly at his side wile walking me through the group and into the kitchen; Caroline and Bonnie following closely behind. I look back, over my shoulder, at Lexi and Stefan.

Lexi:"No, Mom! Please, Dad. Let me go!"

    I wanted nothing more than to call back for her. Let her know that I'm not leaving her. That I care, but as confused as I was I knew that no matter what I said it would make things worse; for her, for Stefan.

    I sat at the table in the kitchen in still silence while everyone stood around me, afraid to say anything. Finally when I was about to say something the yelling from the other room had come to a stop but only by the sound that could be made by that of glass shattering.

Jenna:"Elena, wait!"

    Unable to hold myself back any longer, I run into the living room. Luckily only a bottle of bourbon fell on the carpet and broke. Lexi runs to me and into my arms. I hold her tight; considering it's the first time since I stepped through the door that I've actually been able to hold my daughter. I knew she wasn't the little girl I left behind, but I also knew I was still her mother, and she was still my daughter. The hug was short lived. Stefan pulled Lexi back gently, and I let go knowing, again, I couldn't say anything.

Stefan:"Lexi, we're going home."

Lexi:"We just got her back, and you want us to be separated again, really?"

Elena:"Hey, I'm not going anywhere. I'm sure your dad just wants you to get some rest. I'll see you in the morning."

Stefan:"Yes she will because we're all going home."

    Lexi and I both look over at Stefan, and he looks between the both of us but his gaze softens for a small second as our shared look lingers just a little bit longer and then he turns to Lexi.

Stefan:"Why don't you go get your aunts and uncles, so we can say goodbye and then go get your gifts."

    Lexi gives me a tight squeeze before running off into the kitchen. I watch her run off and turn back to Stefan as soon as I can no longer see her.

Elena:"Stefan, are you sure? I don't have to really. I know you're just trying to do what's best for Lexi."

    I search his eyes for some sort of answer, but he takes a deep breath in and takes a few steps in my direction.

Stefan:"I want to protect Lexi, of course, but I don't want to let you go again,"

    He slowly brought one hand up to cup the side of my cheek, and I leaned into it letting out a small comforted sigh.

Stefan:"I don't know how you're here. I don't know how it's real, but I can't loose you anymore."

    Before either of us could say anything else everyone was already walking back in from the kitchen. Stefan and I pulled apart a little and turned to face everyone.

Stefan:"Thank you guys for everything. We'll see you guys tomorrow, but For tonight we're going to head home. Damon,"

    He and Damon went off to the side and started up a quiet conversation while Lexi, and I said goodnight to everyone. Stefan, shortly after, came over and said goodnight to our family as well. I noticed everyone started to head up the stairs, so I assumed they were staying the night like we used to...well years ago; apart from that I notice Damon say something to bonnie and kiss her on the cheek before walking toward us.

Damon:"I can take Lexi, so you guys can take the Porsche back."

    The boys just nodded and Lexi didn't argue about it. Once Lexi had all of her things we made our way outside tot he cars; ready to go home.

XXX

    Here's another chapter for you guys!! It's not much and kind of slow, but I hope to pick things up again in the next chapter. I hope you guys are liking the story and thank you so much for reading :)

                                                                   Much Love,

                                                                                   Cami