Old Flames ✖️ Stelena

11

Staring out the window Elena stared at her backyard. Stefan's construction team had arrived and began their work. The sun was beating down on them as they moved their tools where they needed to get started. Elena's brown eyes landed on Stefan's figure. He still had his shirt on.

"Mommy, who are you staring at?" Amara popped out of nowhere scaring Elena in the process.

Once Elena recovered from her scare she answered Amara's question. "Oh, I'm just making sure they don't mess up our yard."

"They won't. Me sold cookies to them. They nice men and ladies." Amara crawled up to her seat at the table to look outside, too.

"You what?"

"Sold cookies. Me up to fifty boxes now." Amara clapped her hands in pride.

Elena shook her head in shame, but in truth, she was hiding a smile. Amara was cute as a button and totally irresistible. No one could say no to her. It was practically impossible. The puppy dog face and big pleading blue eyes just did you in. It was no wonder Amara was so spoiled. The adorable face just got to Elena sometimes.

"Knock, knock!" someone yelled as they walked into the house.

Elena smiled and went to the front door to greet the visitor. Katherine's smiling face appeared at the front door. "Hello Katherine."

Giving Katherine a hug Elena squeezed her doppelganger tight.

"Who there?" Amara's high pitched bounced off of the hall walls.

"Amara it is who's there. Aunt Katherine is here," Elena corrected Amara's sentence.

"Katherine!" Amara ran up to her aunt and hugged her. "Me got a new doll. It's Sleeping Beauty!"

"Cool!"

Amara disappeared into her room.

Both adults went into the kitchen. They began a discussion on normal things Petrovas would discuss. The doorbell rang signaling another visitor to Elena's house. "He has a key and yet he still uses the doorbell," Elena muttered.

"You do the same thing at his house. Don't be a hypocrite," Katherine stated while putting the knife down she was using to cut up fruit.

Elena just stuck her tongue out at Katherine. Katherine offered to get the door while Elena continued to be a little kid. Elena heard Katherine say hello and hug the guest when she let him in. They came into the kitchen where Elena was getting out seasoned uncooked steaks that they were having for lunch.

Elena didn't even have to look up to see who it was. "Hey Elijah."

"Hey Elena." Elijah walked over to Elena and gave Elena a hug that she gladly returned.

Just at the moment Stefan looked up from his work. Looking through the glass door Stefan saw Elena hugging Elijah Mikealson tightly in a more-than-friendly hug. His heart's wounds felt like lemon juice had just been poured in them. Jealousy filled his veins. Stefan had to look away from the sight before he went up and punched Elijah in the face.

"Amara! Time for lunch!" Katherine called from the kitchen table she was setting.

Elena brought out a bowl of cut up fruit and a bowl of salad and set them on the table. The rambunctious child ran downstairs and into the kitchen. She climbed into her seat. Elijah came in from outside the kitchen where he was cooking on the grill. It his hand was a plate of four juicy steaks.

Lunch began with Elijah passing out the steaks and cutting up Amara's steak. Katherine and Elena made sure Amara got the proper amount of fruits and veggies. It was a nice Petrova and Mikealson lunch even though there was only one Mikealson at the table.

Once they finished their meal, Amara climbed back upstairs to her room to escape cleaning up. Elijah and Katherine started talking politics while Elena cleaned up the kitchen table. It was a peaceful and normal environment.

Elena looked up from her spot at the table where she was washing the table. Instantly, her brown eyes landed on a shirtless Stefan. Finally. Elena's eyes were glued on Stefan as he worked in the hot sun glistened in sweat.

"Elena, I think that spot on the table is clean enough," Katherine joked noticing Elena was cleaning the same spot over and over again while staring at Stefan.

Elena's cheeks turned a slight pink color signaling she was blushing. She moved on wiping the rest of the table, once she finished up her work, Elena joined Elijah and Katherine's conversation. But, Elena's wondering eyes always landed on Stefan working outside.

"I thought he had an expecting fiancée. Or are you just making sure he does his work right?" Elijah teased as he caught Elena's wondering eyes on Stefan again.

Elena shook her head. "No, I'm just a hopeless girl in love. At least we're on good terms now."

"You're best friends with your ex?" Katherine creased up her eyebrows in displeasure.

"Yes I am. Did I also mention my ex is also the father of my child?" Elena turned her eyebrows up mocking her doppelganger.

Katherine just shook her head. "Why don't I take Amara tonight? You need a break. I was raped, Elena. I can't get Nadia's father back, but you can. Amara's father didn't rape you. You're a Petrova; Petrovas always get what they want. I'm taking the child and that's final." Katherine stood up from her seat proving her point.

She went upstairs to inform Amara that Amara was sleeping over at Auntie Katherine's condo. Elena slumped in her seat blowing out stressful air. Elijah patted Elena on the back. "She's right, you know?"

"He's taken!" Elena threw her hands up in the air.

"Yeah, but when have you turned down a challenge. I hate to say this, but if you want Stefan, get him. I got to get going."

Elena smiled and hugged Elijah goodbye.

Elijah bid his goodbye exiting outside the front door. Katherine came down holding Amara's hand in her right hand. Amara had a pink Disney princess suitcase trailing behind her. "Bye Mommy. Me loves you."

"Love you too, princess. Thank you Katherine." Elena hugged her daughter goodbye.

"Just remember you can't have an ex as a friend. He's either more than or nothing at all. It all depends on what you want." Katherine opened the door and took Amara's hand leading her out the door.

A sigh left Elena's mouth. Her brain felt like it had been through a sharp bladed blender. Back at the sliding door Elena saw Stefan's team cleaning up their work tools and heavy equipment. Elena caught Stefan kissing Valerie who arrived to give Stefan a ride home. Elena's broken heart screamed in pain.

Katherine's words echoed inside Elena's head. "He's either more than or nothing at all. It all depends on what you want." Elena groaned and held her spinning head. She needed a drink, badly.