Damon Salvatore: I will always choose you.

Forgiveness

EDITED// 12-29-21

I tried to keep my grudge over Stefan but it just wasn't in my characteristics to do so. I was so bad at keeping grudges against people it was pitiful. I was also missing my friend so I decided to talk with him.

I arranged to meet him at the Grill so I got dressed and drove my car to the Boarding House to pick him up.

Once we got comfortable in our booth at the Grill I began to ask the questions that had been eating at me since I found out that Elena and I were adopted.

"Sooo..." I dragged out, gaining his attention. "Elena tells me that you are our mysterious savior from the car crash last spring."

"Every couple of years I come back here, to see Zach and see my home. Last spring, I was out in the woods, by old Wickery Bridge. And I heard the accident. All of it. I was fast getting there, but not fast enough. The car was already submerged. Your dad was still... he was still conscious, and you were slipping in and out of consciousness. I was able to get to him, but he wouldn't let me help him, until I helped you and Elena." Stefan explained, looking sadly into my eyes.

I took a deep breathe and slowly exhaled, leaning back into the seat.

"I went back for them. But it was too late. I couldn't-- I couldn't save them. I'm sorry." I didn't look at him but I could tell he was being genuine. Why wouldn't he be? He was a nice guy.

"Don't apologise, if it weren't for you then there would have been two more casualties. So thank you, Stefan." I scolded him sincerely, keeping my sadness at bay. I wasn't going to be weak in front of another Salvatore. "How did you figure out that Elena and I were adopted?" I quickly changed the subject.

"It didn't make any sense to me. You were a Gilbert. She was a Pierce. But the resemblance was too similar. So I decided to look at your birth certificates from the city records. It says Lily Gilbert, Mystic Falls General; and the same for Elena. But there's no record of your mother ever being admitted. There's no record of her ever being pregnant."

"Do you know anything else?"

"Not yet." He sighed. "For me to go any further, I would've had to look into the Pierce family, and I couldn't do that. It's too much of a risk." He put out his hand and grabbed mine, enclosing it like a sandwich between both of his hands. "I'm sorry. I should've told you sooner but I was so caught up in Damon drama and everything else that I didn't get the chance too. Could you forgive me?" He smiled small.

I pretended to think about whether or not to forgive him just to keep up the suspense. I already knew the answer but it was fun watching Stefan become nervous.

I sighed in defeat and put my free hand on top of his. "I forgive you."

His smile grew which made me smile as well.

"But." I said sternly raising my eyebrows. "You have to pay for my meals for a whole month."

"Deal." He chuckled.

"Come on. We've got a dance to prepare for." I wiggled my eyebrows causing him to roll his eyes.

I pulled him up and we walked out the Grill (after Stefan payed for both of our meals).

Stefan went to meet up with Elena so I made my way to my car on my own.

My phone started to ring so I pulled it out of my pocket and looked at the caller ID. It was a number I didn't know but I answered it anyways, expecting it to be a prank call off Matt or Tyler.

"Hello?" I asked innocently, playing along with the prank call.

"Hello, Lily." An unrecognizable male voice said from the other end.