A/N: Well, this is it. The very last update for this story. I would just like to say, thank you all so much for your support. I would have never written this story without it.
Let's not forget, you all made this story surpass 1000 reviews. I've been informed that this is a first for a Stefan/Elena story. I feel honored that you all would take the time to review and to make this happen.
Again, THANK YOU! I hope you enjoy this epilogue : )
Also, my new story, The You Were has been posted as well. Check it out and let me know what you think.
***4 Years Later***
Nine months. That was how long he had waited. And five days earlier, his wait had come to an end.
Now, sitting in the chair he had bought Elena, in the nursery, he held his beautiful little girl, wrapped in a pink blanket, in his arms, and just stared at her. The sun was coming up outside, lighting the room a little – just enough for him to be able to see her face. Her eyes were blue, though, he was pretty sure they were going to turn green later on. Just like his.
They had named her Brooke. Elena had suggested it and Stefan had loved it. If you just looked at her, you knew her name was perfect. Just like her.
He thought he was ready. After all, he had been around Lily all of her life. But this was so much different, being a father. He could not even describe it, but it was amazing. She was holding on to his finger tightly, staring up at him, trying to figure him out. He was staring down at her, trying to figure her out.
So he continued to smile at her, loving every minute that he spent with her. "I love you" Stefan said quietly, rubbing her small hand with his thumb. She tightened her hand around his finger even more and he knew that this little girl would have him so tightly wrapped around her little finger until the day he died. Just like Lily. And just like Elena.
"Thought I'd find you in here" came Elena's voice, soft and full of sleepiness. But she was smiling as she leaned against the doorframe.
"I can't seem to get enough of her" Stefan said, smiling at Elena before looking down at Brooke.
Elena slowly walked towards them, the two loves of her life. "Look at how she's looking at you" Elena said. It made her heart melt completely. "She adores you" Elena smiled.
Stefan looked up at Elena once again. "Come here" he told her, shifting a bit in the chair. Elena sat down in the chair with him and he placed Brooke in her arms.
"Hi sweetheart" Elena smiled, kissing her head. Brooke reached her tiny hand up and grabbed Elena's chin. Elena kissed her hand and smiled. Elena laughed when she yawned. "I think she's sleepy" Elena told Stefan.
When Brooke closed her eyes, Elena leaned her head against Stefan's and they both watched their little girl sleep. "Thank you Elena" Stefan whispered, kissing her temple.
"For what?" she asked.
Stefan smiled. "For making me the happiest man alive" he whispered. He kissed her head again and closed his own eyes, content with having Elena and Brooke close to him.
Elena reached one hand out and grabbed his hand to hold. She kept her eyes open, listening to both her little girl and Stefan breathe so peacefully. She wondered how they had gotten here after four years. They had spent almost every waking (and sleeping) moment together and if it were possible, loved each other more because of it. Of course she had enjoyed it being just the two of them. They traveled to places all around the world. Places she had never seen, but wanted to. They had acted like love-struck teenagers too, randomly making out whenever they felt like it. It had been an amazing four years. Yet somehow, right now, with the baby, was even more amazing. This moment was what she had expected for herself when she thought about marriage and family. Everything was perfect.
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The next day, as Stefan held Brooke on the couch while Elena took a nap, his front door opened and in walked Lily, now almost twelve, chatting away on the new phone Damon had bought for her. She saw Stefan who smiled and waved to her, but she put her finger up, telling him she would be with him in a minute. Then, she walked into the kitchen in search of something, all the while tell someone named Lindsey that some guy named David was stupid for not returning her text message.
Stefan had sadly given up on keeping Lily away from boys. It was as if almost instantly when she turned eleven, everything was about boys. Damon gave up to and bought a gun to make his point clear when the boys came over to his house.
Stefan looked down at Brooke and sighed. "I'll do better with you" he promised. "All-girls school and no outside interaction with boys whatsoever" he promised. Brooke seemed more interested in her binky. He missed those days.
He heard Lily hang up as she walked into the living room and dropped her bag in the middle of the floor, propping her feet up on Stefan's 100 year old table. "Everything okay?" Stefan asked when she closed her eyes and sighed.
"Boys" she said. "I need Aunt Elena" she added before opening one eye and looking at him.
Stefan smiled. The two of them had become extremely close over the years and Elena was now Lily's go to person for boy problems. Stefan liked that because although he could never get any information out of Elena regarding what she and Lily talked about, he knew that Elena was the best person to give advice to a hormonal preteen. "She's still asleep. Anything I can help with?" he asked.
Lily looked like she wanted to laugh, but she just smiled instead. "Nope, but thanks" she told him. "How's the crying poop maker?" she asked, looking at the baby curled up in her uncle's arms.
Stefan grinned. Katherine, no doubt, had taught her that one. "She's perfect" Stefan said. "Do you want to hold her?" he asked.
Lily shrugged. "I guess" she said, trying to imply that she really didn't care, but really, Stefan knew she was always thrilled when someone would let her hold the baby. She was really good with her too, having been able to soothe her, change her diaper, and feed her. She stood up and came and sat down next to Stefan, holding her arms out so he could place the baby in her arms.
Brooke looked up at Lily, realizing there was a different face staring down at her. But, she was a content baby and never really put up much of a fuss when someone was holding her. She just seemed to like the attention, something that Elena had always teased Stefan about. "Do you want to babysit her next month?" Stefan asked. He and Elena had a night out planned. Damon would be home of course, so Lily would not be on her own with the baby.
"How much are you going to pay me?" she asked, looking up at him.
Yes, definitely Katherine's child. "What do you think is fair?" Stefan countered.
Lily shrugged. "I don't know. Like a hundred bucks an hour" she figured.
That might have been a little part of Damon actually. "Done" Stefan said. Even after eleven years, he still couldn't tell her no. As a result, he was out three hundred bucks. "Can you watch her for a minute? I'm going to get her a bottle" Stefan said, standing up and leaving the room.
Lily stared down at Brooke for a moment. "You're kind of cute when you aren't pooping and throwing up on me" she said with a smile. Then she sniffed when she realized something smelled. The baby. "Ugh, gross" she said. "Uncle Stefan! Your baby pooped!" she called out. Lily was quick to give the baby back.
Stefan laughed, walking back into the room. He grabbed Brooke and smelled her. "Yep, you need a diaper change" he said. Lily looked disgruntled still. "Oh stop. I had to change your diapers" Stefan reminded her just as Elena walked into the room.
Lily looked mortified. "God Uncle Stefan, don't talk about that!" she warned.
This had Stefan and Elena laughing. "Oh look, Mommy's here, just in time" Stefan said, holding the baby out to Elena.
"I don't think so, buddy. I changed the last diaper" she reminded him. Stefan grinned as he started to walk up the stairs with the baby. Elena waited until he was gone until she spoke again. "So how are things with David?" she asked.
Lily groaned. "Why are boys so stupid Aunt Elena?" she asked, falling back even more into the couch.
Elena came and sat down next to her, wrapping her arm around her and pulling her close. "Boys are just a lot more immature than us, that's all" she told Lily. "You just have to wait for them to catch up."
"How long does that take?" Lily asked, concern filling her voice.
Elena smiled. "I'm still waiting for your uncle to catch up, so I guess I can't give you an answer" she replied.
Lily rested her head on Elena's shoulder and sighed. "I'm done with boys. For good" Lily stated. Elena smiled, knowing that Lily would be boy crazy by tomorrow morning.
"You're still young. Wait a few years" Elena advised.
Lily sighed again, processing what Elena was saying. "Are you still coming to my horse show this weekend?" Lily asked. Jumping. Stefan had to admit, he would have rather seen her go into the gaming events, but Lily loved jumping so he bought her the perfect horse for it.
"You bet I am" Elena told her. Stefan and Damon were going to watch Brooke while she and Katherine went to the show.
"I wish Brooke could come and watch me" Lily said. "I'm going to teach her how to ride" she added.
Elena smiled. "She's still a bit too young to go to your shows and to ride" Elena mentioned. "But when she is ready, she's going to love it."
A comfortable silence fell over them until the front door opened yet again, this time, with Damon and Katherine walking in, followed by Caroline, Alaric, and much to Elena's surprise, Jeremy and Bonnie. "Hey!" Bonnie squealed, running past everyone to hug Elena.
"What are you guys doing here?" Elena asked in complete surprise. Classes weren't over for another week. Then it was graduation, which Elena was sad to have to miss.
"We took our exams early" Bonnie explained. "Now where is my niece?" she demanded. Having missed the birth five days ago, she had serious time to make up for.
Elena smiled. "Stefan took her upstairs to be changed" Elena said. Before she could say another word, Bonnie was gone, heading up the stairs in search of the baby.
Elena accepted hugs from Caroline and Alaric as well, who both kept their distance from one another, but it was obvious that they were sleeping together. "Sorry we couldn't be at the hospital with you" Caroline apologized.
Elena shook her head. "You're here now" Elena reminded them with a smile. She actually preferred that it had only been Stefan, Lily, Damon, and sometimes Katherine at the hospital. It was overwhelming enough.
Katherine sat down on a chair at the opposite end of the room, pulling out her compact and checking her makeup. She really hadn't been that interested in the baby. Damon, on the other hand, was a baby hog and everyone knew it. Once he got Brooke in his arms, it was hours before he gave her up. Elena could tell just by watching his face that he wanted another baby. It kind of hurt Elena knowing that Katherine would never give him another one.
"You had better get started on your homework young lady" Damon said, eyeing Lily. She was the worst procrastinator ever. Though, she was smart as hell.
Lily rolled her eyes. "God, Dad. Could you be any more of a buzz kill?" she asked, getting up from the couch and grabbing her bag. "I'll be in Uncle Stefan's office" she said, addressing no one in particular.
Katherine sat back, completely amused with her daughter's attitude. "Glad you find it amusing" Damon grumbled.
Moments later, Bonnie came walking back into the room with Brooke in her arms. Everyone but Katherine circled Bonnie to get a look at the baby and quite possibly, take the baby to hold. It wasn't going to happen though. "Back it up guys. It is my baby time right now" she said, taking a seat on the couch next to Elena. Elena resisted the urge to take Brooke from Bonnie, just because she missed holding her. "Oh Elena, she's gorgeous" Bonnie gushed.
"Isn't she?" Elena said, smiling as she touched her daughter's hand and made silly faces at her.
Two more hours went by with everyone complaining that Damon was hogging the baby. Again. Elena finally pried the baby from his arms though, announcing that she needed to put Brooke to bed. There were whines and moans, but Elena was successful at getting the baby upstairs and into her nursery.
Elena changed her once again and placed the blanket underneath her, getting ready to swaddle her. Elena attempted once but failed. She undid the blanket and tried again. It still wasn't right. She tried to remember exactly how the nurse had showed her, but it wasn't working. "You forgot to pull one end over her shoulder" came Katherine's voice from inside the door. Elena turned around, surprised to see her standing there. Elena stared at her almost blankly. "Here" she said, walking into the room and spreading the blanket into a diamond shape and picking Brooke up, placing her in the middle. "Over her chest. Up and over her shoulder. Then back over her chest and tuck in" Katherine instructed, almost effortlessly. She picked Brooke up and cradled her. She hated to admit it, but the kid was beautiful.
"Thank you" Elena said, watching Katherine. "Do you ever think about having another one?" she asked.
Katherine rocked the baby softly in her arms, continuing to stare at her. Brooke's eyes were closing slowly. "Damon wants another one" Katherine said. Pregnancy just wasn't something she handled well. "Those Salvatores sure do make beautiful babies though" Katherine said. The she carefully put a sleepy Brooke back in her crib.
Elena smiled down at her daughter. "They sure do" she agreed.
Katherine looked up to find Stefan in the doorway. She wondered how long he had been there. "I'm going to go back downstairs" she said, walking past Stefan. Stefan grabbed her hand though, and mouthed a thank you to her before letting her continue on her way. Katherine smiled before leaving.
"How long have you been standing there?" Elena asked, still standing over Brooke's crib.
"Long enough to see you and Katherine bonding" he smirked, coming to stand at her side. "That was nice of her to help you" Stefan said.
Elena nodded. "Yeah, it was" she agreed, leaning in to rest against Stefan. "What's everyone doing?" she asked.
"Alaric and Caroline are getting ready to head back to their hotel and your brother and Bonnie are getting ready to come upstairs and go to bed" he replied. "Lily is in my office doing her homework and Damon is asleep on the couch" he added.
Elena nodded, still focused on her sleeping baby. "I just can't stop looking at her" she said, feeling herself smile again.
Stefan kissed the top of her head and pulled her closer to him. "I can't either" he told her. They both watched Brooke sleep for a few more minutes before going back downstairs.
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Stefan found Lily still in his office doing her homework. "I think your parents are ready to go" he told her.
Lily sighed, shutting her book, seemingly frustrated. She looked up at him and he thought she was going to cry. "Do you love the baby more than me, because she's yours?" Lily asked, looking up at him.
Stefan was almost floored by her question, but he kept his composure. "Absolutely not. I love you both the same" he told her. "Why would you ask me that?" he asked her, walking towards her. He made her get up so he could sit down. Lily sat down with him.
"It's just … you spend all your time with the baby now. And even before she was born, you were always working on the nursery or reading your baby books" she told him. "You stopped going to my horse shows" she said in a tone that sounded devastated. He had pushed her into horses from an early age, then abandoned her.
Stefan realized that all of this was true. His entire focus had been on the baby and her arrival. There was no excuse. He had failed to balance his time with Lily and his time with his own daughter. "I'm sorry" he told her, kissing the top of her head. "I should have been spending more time with you. And I will from now on. We're going to pick two days a week where just you and I spend a little time together, okay?" he told her.
"Really?" she asked, somewhat excited that he would want to.
Stefan nodded. "We can do anything you want. Go for a trail ride, dinner, a movie, ice cream" he listed off.
"All four!" Lily said, hugging him. "But the ice cream first" she added.
Stefan hugged her back. "Sounds good" he told her.
"Oh, and can I have some money for the movies tomorrow?" she asked, pulling away from him. "Daddy said I had to clean my room if I wanted money to go with Sarah" she added.
Stefan grinned before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a twenty. "Here" he told her.
Lily's eyes lit up at the sight of the money. "You're the best! I love you Uncle Stefan!" she said, hugging him once again.
"I told Damon she'd get it out of you" Katherine said, smirking from the door. Stefan wondered if she made a habit out of lurking.
Stefan smiled. "How could anyone ever say no to this?" he asked, pinching Lily's cheeks, causing her to giggle.
"You can't say no to me Uncle Stefan" she told him. "You love me too much" she added.
"You're right about that" Stefan said, helping Lily up. "Have fun with Sarah tomorrow. And make sure you get your room cleaned eventually" he told her.
Lily nodded. Katherine wondered how he did it. She and Damon had bribed Lily with everything imaginable to try and get her to clean her room, yet all Stefan had to do was tell her and she was willing to do it. "Bye Uncle Stefan" she said. "Give Brooke a kiss goodnight for me" she added before skipping out of the room with her new twenty.
Katherine and Stefan both looked at one another and laughed. "She's got you wrapped around her finger even after all these years" Katherine said, taking the book Stefan handed to her.
"Well, she's worth every last dime she squeezes out of me" he said, looking at a photo of him and Lily sitting on his desk. Katherine nodded in agreement. Stefan had seen such a change in Katherine over the last few years. She had really made an effort to be a mother to Lily. Lily had really grown close to her as a result. "You're doing a great job, you know. Being a mom. I'm really happy that you decided to make the effort" he told her. Katherine, not one to shy away from praise, looked surprised to hear this from him, but he could tell that she wanted to smile proudly. "And thank you, for helping Elena earlier. It really means a lot to me" he added. She was trying. Really trying.
Katherine nodded again. "Brooke is beautiful" she told Stefan. "And she's got the best parents in the world" she added. She was being sincere and Stefan could tell. But as soon as the moment came, it was gone. "Goodnight, Stefan" she said, backing slowly away from the door before disappearing.
"Goodnight" he said, turning back to the photo of him and Lily. He decided that he was going to frame the picture taken at the hospital of Lily holding Brooke for the first time. Lily's excitement was captured perfectly in that photo. Stefan smiled at the thought of his two little girls before standing up and heading back upstairs.
"Hey" Elena said as Stefan came into their room. "Lily and them go home?" she asked.
Stefan wrapped his arms around Elena as she put her hair up into a ponytail. "Yep" he said, kissing the back of her neck. "Your brother and Bonnie asleep?" he asked her.
"Yep" Elena said, turning around in his arms and placing her own arms around his neck.
Stefan smiled, leaning down and kissing her softly. "I want to frame that picture of Lily and Brooke at the hospital" he said, resting his head against hers and smiling. "I think it is one of my favorites."
Elena smiled, pulling away from him and walking to her dresser. She pulled out a photo frame and walked back over to him. "I beat you to it" she said, handing it to him.
Stefan took the frame from her and stared at it, smiling even more. It was even more perfect than he had remembered. "Thank you" he told her, taking the photo and setting it on his nightstand for now. "I love it."
Elena crawled into bed, holding the covers open for him. He crawled in as well, turning the lamp off and wrapping his arms around her, tucking her into the curve of his body. "Goodnight" she whispered.
Stefan smiled, breathing her in before sighing. "Goodnight" he told her, kissing just behind her ear. He would whisper those words to her every night for the rest of their lives. It was just one of the many things to look forward to.
And even though their love had started out as a lie, it had turned into something truer than either of them could have imagined.
A/N: End.
However, I may do a sequel for this story at a later time. Stay tuned!