Vampire Diaries Imagines

Looking For Ghosts - Stefan Salvatore

It had been a long time since I'd seen myself - or my brothers - dressed like this.

But there Stefan stood, clad in the formal attire that once seemed so ordinary. The crisp white shirt, the perfectly pressed waistcoat, the dark suit jacket - it was a look I hadn't seen on him in over a century. He stood just off to the side in the high school parking lot, waiting beside one of the decorated Founder's Day floats.

For a moment, it didn't feel like I was in modern-day Mystic Falls anymore. Seeing Stefan like that, looking like the brother I'd grown up with, brought memories rushing back. Memories of simpler times - at least compared to now.

Back then, the biggest concerns were family expectations, social gatherings, and the occasional lecture from Father about proper etiquette. Compared to the chaos we face now - supernatural threats, betrayal, loss - those days felt like a cakewalk.

I stepped closer, crossing the lot quietly until I was right behind him.

"You look... nostalgic," I said, my voice light.

Stefan turned, smiling faintly when he saw me. "Apparently it's the dress code for the float," he replied, gesturing to the elaborate decorations behind him - white flowers, ribbons, and banners honoring the new "Miss Mystic" and her fellow contenders.

"I'm surprised it still fits," I teased, raising an eyebrow.

He laughed under his breath. "You and me both."

I smiled, but my eyes lingered on him. The sight of him like this pulled at something inside me - something I hadn't realized I missed. It wasn't just the clothes... it was the way he held himself, the way the weight of responsibility seemed to hang differently on his shoulders. He looked like the Stefan I remembered before everything changed. Before Katherine. Before the blood.

"You okay?" Stefan asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Yeah," I said quickly, shaking off the heaviness of my thoughts. "Just... seeing you like this makes me miss the way things used to be."

He nodded thoughtfully, his smile softening. "Yeah... me too."

Before I could say more, Elena appeared, weaving through the crowd toward us. She wore a period-accurate dress, the soft fabric flowing as she moved. Seeing her like that - dark hair curled just so, posture perfectly poised - made my chest tighten uncomfortably. She looked so much like Katherine.

I forced myself to push the thought away. This isn't Katherine. This is Elena.

"Ready?" Elena asked Stefan, smiling brightly.

He smiled back - that soft smile that only Stefan could give - and nodded. "Yeah."

They walked off together, leaving me standing alone by the floats. I knew Elena wasn't Katherine, but watching them together stirred up too many memories - memories of a version of my brother who had been swept up in someone else's web of lies and manipulation. A version of my brother I'd nearly lost.

With a sigh, I made my way down to the square, blending into the growing crowd. Families lined the sidewalks, children holding balloons, and couples leaned close to one another, murmuring about the parade. I stayed behind most of the crowd, my hands stuffed into the pockets of my jeans as I waited for the floats to roll by.

I spotted Elena and Stefan atop the Miss Mystic Falls float when it finally passed. Stefan stood tall and poised - he'd always been the more proper one, no matter how much time had passed. His smile looked effortless, but I knew better. I knew the weight he carried - the regrets, the guilt. I knew how hard he tried to hide it.