Stefan and Delena: Without You

{4} Drinking Buddy to the Rescue

I led Elena into the living room, telling her to make herself at home. I felt so sorry for her, she felt responsible for Damon, even though Stefan was alive. He was still giving her grief over everything she did. Elena had packed a few basic things with her and stayed at Damon's house ever since Stefan had died. Was not grateful for that? Ric and Jer barely know how to cook a basic pizza let alone cook dinner full time. In my eyes, she was sacrificing so much for a guy that didn't even deserve how much she she had for him.

I sighed and flicked the switch on the kettle, leaning on my elbows to watch small bubbles build up in the water as it boiled. As I was waiting for the kettle I searched through all my cupboards for something Elena and I could eat. The closest I got was a pack of biscuits, I need to go shopping. I sighed and opened the new packet, trying to bury my ears into my neck as the plastic packet made that horrible squeaky noise. I got out a plate and poured the biscuits onto it, popping them our the packet with my fore finger and thumb. I bought them into the living room where Elena was sitting at the very edge of the couch, knees bought up to her chest resting her head on them.

"Here, it's not much... All I could find really that my Dad wouldn't mind us eating." I sighed, placing the plate of biscuits on the coffee table.

"It's fine, I'm not hungry." Elena mumbled in between her knees.

"You need to eat something Elena." I told her, nudging the plate a little closer to her. "Do you want tea or coffee?"

"I'm not thirsty either." She said, her voice flat.

"I'll make you a coffee, perk you up a bit." I decided, walking back into the kitchen. I heard the pop of the kettle and got out two cups and a teaspoon. I put in the coffee granuals with the teaspoon and poured in the water. I finished off the coffee and bought them into Elena. I rested the coffees on a place mat each and sat down next to her.

"Now, tell me Elena. Are you okay..?" I murmured, it was obvious she wasn't. I just needed to start off the conversation.

"I am, yes. It's just... He's stressing me out. I don't know how I'll be able to handle him until you find Stefan." She sighed, leaning over to get her coffee.

"I understand, I mean... When you lost Jenna. It was hard for me to talk to you, I felt a little scared. What you need to do is talk to him." I suggested, leaning over for my coffee, taking a biscuit with me.

"But I do talk to him, he just replies with sour remarks that make me want to lock myself in a room and cry." She replied between sips. 

"Elena, you need to really think about this. Are you actually communicating with Damon?"

"I try to... He just throws everything back in my face."

"Yeah, but you're not really getting through to him. That's what you need to do, you need to enter his way of thinking. Say to him what you would want people to say to you if you lost Jeremy." Elena nodded, taking another sip.

"Thanks Bonnie, I'm really glad I have you as a friend." Elena smiled.

"No, thank you. Just seeing that smile is a sign that everything is going to get better for you and Damon. Just be strong, and fight back against every false accusation he makes. And, as soon as we find Stefan, I'll make sure Damon is the first person we take him to. I've realised now that Damon was a lot closer to him brother than he made out. I'd do anything to find Stefan and bring him back to Damon." I smiled, handing Elena a biscuit which she generously took.

Caroline's P.O.V

"Come on, Matt!" I squealed at the mortal who wasn't moving fast enough for my taste.

"I'm sorry, Care! I can't exactly go vampire speed for you, can I?" He joked, moving a bit faster.

"Not like that, I mean walk a bit faster! We are almost out of Mystic Falls and we'll never get there if you're going at the speed of a snail." I joked back. We were looking for Stefan, not notifying anyone we were heading out of the area. I mean, what evidence was there that Stefan was in Mystic Falls? None, no evidence what so ever. Me and Matt we searched everywhere we could locally. Where we were heading was still local, just a different part of Virginia. It wasn't a big effort, but we were going to start off small and then gradually get bigger in the ideas of places Stefan could be. He'd been to many places, most of which he probably wouldn't want to visit again. The only person who knew Stefan better than himself was Damon, but he didn't even believe Stefan was alive so what use would he be?

"Can't we just go back and get your car? We're almost out of Mystic falls, unfortunately I'm not gifted with that wonderful vampire athletic stamina of yours." Matt whined. I turned around and faced him.

"No! Matt we need to find Stefan! There's no way we can do that by car! We'd probably miss him if we were driving, we need to do this by foot. Now call Jeremy, see if he's found anything." I demanded, acting like his mother. I turned around swiftly and Matt, turning into a little child, poked me in the back. I turned around and glared at him.  "Stop it! Call Jeremy already!" I tried to hold in my giggle. Matt got his phone out of his pocket to call Jeremy, but he called Matt before he even had the chance. Suddenly our ears were filled with some funky ring tone blaring at its highest volume. Every single head turned to look at us. That's when I exploded into a laughing fit. Matt tried to hold it in, acting sophisticated, he answered phone. His cheeks were a bright red, but he decided to pretend nothing had happened.

"Jeremy, hey." Matt said quietly as everyone went back to their normal business. "No, we haven't found him, I take it you've got nothing either?" Matt was trying too hard not to laugh, my laugh was making him laugh. " Ok, I'll let you know if we find anything. Bye now." Matt hung up and slipped his phone back into his pocket.

"Oh wow." I managed to say between my laughter, he suddenly exploded with me. It was good to have Matt with me.

Alaric's P.O.V

I was in the car, heading to the Salvatore Boarding house after I'd received a call from a worried Bonnie demanding me to go and help Damon. He was obviously in a bad place right now, I didn't blame him. But apparently if anyone could get through to him, it was his drinking buddy. I stepped down on the breaks and cut off the engine, arriving at the house. I got out and locked the door behind me with a smooth press of a button on the car key and knocked on the door. No answer. I knocked again.

"Damon, it's Ric." I shouted, knocking again, and again... And again. "You'd better not be drinking without me!" I teased, knocking for the last time. Suddenly the door swung open. Damon looked awful, had he been crying? I couldn't tell with my useless mortal eyes but I could smell the strong scent of alcohol on his breath as he spoke.

"Ric, hello." He said, speech slurred.

"Damon, let me in." I demanded, moving him out of the way of the door. He looked rather angry as I did so. Closing the door behind me, I turned to face him. "Tell me, what are you doing to yourself? Bonnie called me. Apparently you're being very difficult, and not at all appreciating everything Elena has been doing for you." I folded my arms.

"What do you care?" He replied flatly, walking off. I placed a strong hand on his shoulder and yanked him back to face me.

"Listen, you may think no one gives a damn about you but you're wrong. I care, Elena cares, Jeremy cares... Heck, even Caroline is worrying about you. Now I suggest you damn well get over yourself and start talking to Elena about how you really feel. You're destroying her from the inside out and as her guardian I'm doing something about it. I do not want you treating her like that, do you understand me, Damon?" I shouted at him. Damon's eyes widened a little, I took that as a yes. He understood me. I sighed and walked off, grabbing a bottle of his finest whiskey before I left.