Vampire Diaries Imagines

Weight of the World - Stefan Salvatore

The Gilbert house was quiet, the kind of quiet that only came late at night when Jeremy was asleep, and Elena was in her room, probably journaling. The sound of crickets filled the night air, and the gentle creak of the porch swing was the only interruption. Y/N sat beside Stefan, who she had invited over for dinner, her hands gripping the edge of the swing as if holding on to it kept her steady.

The moonlight cast a soft glow over the yard, illuminating the familiar landscape of her childhood. But nothing about it felt familiar anymore. Since her parents' death, everything had changed. Everything seemed to have a new light and not necessarily a good one and to the young Gilbert girl it had been that way for a while now.

"You're quiet tonight," Stefan said softly, his voice soothing as ever. He glanced at her, his green eyes reflecting concern.

Y/N sighed, her gaze fixed on the worn wood of the porch floor. "I guess I just... I don't know. I feel like I'm supposed to have it all figured out, you know?" She hesitated, then met his eyes. "But I have no idea what I'm doing, Stef."

Stefan's brows furrowed, and he turned his body toward her, one arm draped over the back of the swing behind her. "Y/N/N, you've been through so much. No one expects you to have all the answers or know everything. Least of all me."

She laughed bitterly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "Jeremy needs a parental figure to keep him out of trouble. Elena needs someone to keep her grounded to keep her from spiraling. Mom and Dad were always good at that kind of stuff but me? I don't even know who I am anymore. I'm just... trying to keep my head above water."

Stefan leaned forward, his hand gently resting on hers. The coolness of his touch was grounding, calming. "You're doing more than that. You're keeping your family together. That's no small thing."

Y/N's lips trembled, and for the first time in weeks, she let herself be vulnerable. "I'm so tired, Stefan. I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask to be the one holding everything together. I wanted to travel after graduation, figure out what I wanted from life. Now, I'm stuck being something I don't even know how to be."

Stefan's grip on her hand tightened, his gaze unwavering. "It's not fair. You've been forced to grow up faster than you should've had to. But that doesn't mean you're alone in this."

She blinked back tears, the sincerity in his voice striking a chord deep within her. "I just... I feel like I'm failing them. And I don't know how to stop."

"You're not failing anyone," Stefan said firmly. "Y/N, you care. You love them enough to worry about getting it right. That's what makes you a good sister-and a good person."

Her breath hitched, and she looked away, unsure how to respond. It wasn't often that she let her guard down, but something about Stefan made it feel safe. Like she didn't have to be the strong one all the time.

"I don't even know why I'm dumping all this on you," she said, shaking her head. "You didn't sign up to be my therapist."

"Maybe not," Stefan said with a small smile, "but I did sign up to be your friend. And, if you'll let me, maybe more than that."

Y/N's heart skipped a beat, her eyes locking onto his. "More?"

He nodded, his voice soft but steady. "You don't have to do this alone, Y/N/N. Let me help. Let me be there for you, the way you are for them. You need someone on your side when you feel like you're falling apart. Let me be that person for you."

For the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to hope. The weight on her chest didn't disappear, but it felt lighter somehow, knowing someone cared enough to carry it with her.

"Okay," she whispered, a small smile breaking through the sadness. "But don't say I didn't warn you. This might be more than you bargained for."

Stefan chuckled, his hand brushing a tear from her cheek. "I think I can handle it."

As they sat there on the swing, the world around them quiet and still, Y/N leaned into him, finding comfort in his presence. For once, she didn't feel like she had to have all the answers. For once, she wasn't alone.