Because Of You

Chapter 21

Elena's P.O.V.

I try to picture it, and part of me can. The way Stefan and I will be once we're moved into our own place and what type of parents we'll be. Yet, there's something holding me back, preventing me from feeling like we're going to make it fully. Maybe it's the fact that I haven't really told him that I haven't seen or spoken to my own parents in a long time, told them that I'm dating my sister's old boyfriend who also happens to be my niece's father. I've tried to hint at it, to make him realize that yes, even though I've been acting like I'm okay with seeing them, once he's ready... That nothing's wrong, truth be told. I'm barely holding it together, because of the fact that I had agreed to meet with them and have Caroline tag along, instead of Stefan. Because if there's one thing I know about my family is that the Gilbert's look down upon those who screw up, even if it's their own children and they make everyone else who are associated with their daughter's feel like crap at times.

So, as I try to wrap my mind around the fact that I had asked Caroline to come with me after the wedding, to see them. My hands are pressed against the white tiles in the warm and overheated bathroom, the water running cold. When I hear Stefan's cheerful voice. His hand swings the door open and he curses something under his breath as he sighs loudly.

"Hey Babe! You almost done? I've got to get in there too, Lillian just barfed up her breakfast on me..It's kind of gross and worst part is it's on the white button up that I'm wearing for the wedding." He explains, rattling on about how much she just hurled on him when I open the cream colored shower curtain , covering my body half way with it as the water mists around me.

"It's normal. You'll get used to it...Stefan.." My voice trails off, trying my hardest to figure out what I wanted to tell him. But as I watch him strip off his shirt, standing with a half smile in my direction, my brain instantly shuts itself up. "What? Care to join me?" I ask, with a laugh.

Stefan smiles and shakes his head quickly. His hands are on his hips, head down as he licks his lips when his eyes meet mine. "You know I wish I could, more than anything right now. But, our daughter is in the dining room with a messy face and we have limited time to do much at the moment...But, I will make it up to you, very soon." He tells me, eyebrows furrowed as he walks over to the edge of the tub and leans in, leaving a kiss on my lips and winking at me before he disappears out of the bathroom again, my mind coming to the realization that he just said "our daughter."

XXXX

I don't bring it up in the car, it's been two hours since we've left home and as I turn back to see Lillian fast asleep in her car seat, a cheerio dangling from her chin, I smile.

Stefan clears his throat as I turn and shift in my seat, watching him glance over at me as he lightly pushes a strand of my hair that's in front of my eyes, smiling at me as he says. " I am so happy to be taking this trip with my precious girls, my beauties." I smile even wider as I reach over and grab his hand into mine, intertwining our fingers as I speak to him. "Thank you, for being everything that I've been looking for. I love you Stefan and I can't wait for us to move in together." I tell him in a soft tone, glancing over at him.

His green eyes light up at my words and he smiles wider at me. "Well, I'm glad you say that because it looks like Damon found us a place to live. It's close to the bar and we can take shifts babysitting Lillian and staying home with her until she's old enough to go to preschool. It's a start and a plan." Stefan tells me with a grin as I watch him look up at her sleeping body through the rearview mirror."Did you ever see yourself in this spot, a year or two ago?" He asks me, distance in his voice. He sounds lost in his own thoughts, in his own head.

I look up at him from the cell phone in my other hand, giving him a half smile as I lock my eyes on his."No. I never saw myself taking care of a child. To be completely honest, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I had spent almost three years and thousands of dollars in loans and financial aid, trying to figure out what job I had wanted to do. But, the accident changed my life, it made me realize that life's too short to sit around and wait for your life to piece it's self together. I mean, I always wanted a family one day. But, I never thought that I would be getting one, this way..Don't get me wrong Stefan. I am thankful, for you, for her. I truly am... But..." My voice trails off as he grabs my other hand that's hanging over the console between us. I take a staggered breath as I pause for a moment and smile at him.