Refusing to Run

I.

Elena sat quietly in her room, curled up into a chair looking through a small box of memories that she had saved over the years. It had been over sixty years since Stefan Salvatore came into her life. Over sixty years since supernatural mayhem invaded the small town of Mystic falls. Elena was well into her 80's and was dying. Cancer had invaded her body and it wouldn't be long until death finally took her. She was amazed really that she had managed to stay alive this long, and not only that but stayed human.

She sighed quietly to herself as she leafed through the photographs and letters that filled her box of memories. Pictures of her and Stefan. Pictures of herself with Bonnie and Caroline. Pictures of her and Matt with their two children. Pictures of her children with her grandchildren.

Elena had lived a full life. After everything that had happened, she finally had settled down with Matt Donovan and together they created a life and family together, as they tried to forget all of the evil that had once ran amok in Mystic Falls. She had loved Matt and when he passed away five years earlier her heart broke.

Everyone that had survived in her small circle of friends had returned for Matt's funeral and she was grateful for that. However, there were faces that were missing. Bonnie and Damon had both died prior to Matt's passing.

She had called Stefan and asked him to come, and as she heard him quietly come up the stairs her heart still managed to skip a beat. After everything Stephan had always been there. Never more than a phone call away. He always managed to pop-in on occasion and he still loved her even after all this time.

"Stephan…" Elena said quietly as she turned her head to look at him standing in her doorway. He smiled as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the door frame.

"Hello Elena." Stefan uncrossed his arms and crossed the room to where Elena sat. He knelt down in front her and placed his hands on her knees. Elena had aged but when Stefan looked at her all he saw was young beautiful Elena. His green eyes softened with love as he looked up at her and she smiled down at him. Stefan was her angel; never aging, never changing. He was still perfect and he still loved her.

"I'm dying Stefan." Elena choked out the words as her fingers fumbled with the photograph that she held in her hands. Stefan already knew before she said anything. He saw it as soon as he looked at her. The bright aura that always surrounded her was now dim and gray. He knew there wasn't much time.

"I know," he said quietly. He raised his hand to her cheek and stroked it softly. Elena let out a quiet sniffle and wiped away a stray tear that had managed to escape.

"Please keep my family safe." Elena looked at Stefan steadily as he nodded in acknowledgement. Peace had fallen upon Mystic Falls for some time now, however Stefan knew that as long as the Gilbert/Petrova line continued there would always be a threat. Klaus and his family along with other evil entities that still roamed the earth were waiting for the day to come to once again wreak havoc on Elena's family and this small town.

"I promise," he whispered quietly. Stefan stood and gently scooped Elena up out of her chair, cradling her against him as he carried her to her bed and carefully laid her down. He moved along to the other side of the bed and lay down on top of the blankets next to her, pulling her against him, letting her head fall on his chest.

II.

Three days after Stefan had arrived back to Mystic Falls Elena had passed on. Not long after that Stefan was standing in the cemetery among family and friends for her funeral. Caroline had come and stood next to Stefan squeezing tightly onto his hand as tears streamed down her cheeks.

It was a cold rainy day befitting for the mood around Elena's grave. After the priest spoke his finally 'Amen' everyone broke off into small groups, comforting each other as they walked to their cars. Stefan and Caroline hung back, still standing next to each other but no longer holding hands.