Moving On

Chapter 25

Elena woke the next morning with Stefans' arms wrapped around her waist. Feeling her slowly moving around, he tightened his grip a little more on her and pulled her further back into his chest.

"Good morning." He said smiling and kissing the back of her head. "Sleep fine?" He asked smirking, knowing damn well she did because of the slight snores that he heard from her throughout the night.

"Mhmm." She replied sleepily. "Best sleep I've had in days." She said placing her hands on his that were wrapped around her. She felt him kissing the back of her head again and smiled, completely forgetting about yesterdays' problems with whatever he wasn't telling her. "What time is everyone coming over?"

Stefan thought for a minute before he replied. "One-ish, I think. Why?" He said before planting a kiss on her shoulder.

"Oh, I just wanted to know if there was going to be time for Stefan and Elena time." She asked smirking and giggling. Smiling, he maneuvered so that he was on top of her, his hands on each side of her head. He was looking down at her and making sure that he wasn't pressing all of his weight on her. He kissed her forehead and then the tip of her nose before moving his hands lightly down her arms. When he reached her sides, he started to tickle her.

"Stef-Stef-Stefan," She said through laughter. "Stop," She said, still laughing. "Can't breathe." He finally let up and somehow, she managed to flip them so now she was on his lap, staring down at him with a big goofy grin. "I win." She said smiling even wider.

"What do you get for a prize?" He asked smiling. He was truly so much happier when she was around. Her smile brightens up his day and her laughter was just contagious.

"Hmmm..." She brought her index finger up to her chin and started tapping on in and averted her eyes to the ceiling, making it look like she was deep in thought. Like she was concentrating. "You." She said averting her gaze back to him and biting her lower lip and smirking.

"I like where this is going." He said before sitting up straight. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her forehead against his.

"I thought you might." She smiled before kissing him and pushing him back on the bed, so that he was lying on his back.

XXXX

Arianna slept later than normal. Stefan and Elena weren't complaining because it gave them time to 'freshen up' after their morning activities. Afterwards, Stefan got their breakfast ready while Elena helped Arianna get ready for the day. She came downstairs in blue jeans and a pink frilly shirt, and her hair in pig tails.

"Well don't you look adorable." Stefan said smiling at his daughter. She gave him a big toothy grin before making her way over to him to give him a hug.

"I picked it out." She said smiling up at him before he picked her up, placing her against his hip. "Elena did my hair, too!" She said excitedly.

"I noticed the pig tails." He said smiling. "You love having your hair in pig tails." He kissed the side of her head and set her back down on her feet before making his way over to Elena, who was standing in the door way to the kitchen, watching the exchange between the two of them.

"Hey." He said smiling down at her and placing his hands on her waist. She wrapped her arms loosely around his waist and he pulled her in for a hug. She rested the side of her head on his chest and felt a kiss on the side of her head.

"Are you happy to have everyone over today?" She asked. She felt his chest rise and fall with each breath he took and it kind of calmed her a little. She felt relaxed. She hadn't felt this relaxed since the last time she was around him.