author's note: i can't believe it's been more than two weeks since i last updated. Sorry for the delay, schools been kicking my ass. disclaimer, There will be only 1-3 updates left.

xx

"come back with me" he whispered in her ear. she furrowed her eyebrows, confused by his statement.

they pulled back from each other.

"Away from the other side. Let me take you back to the real world" He said through a staggered whisper.

"I'm not going to force you to come back with me. But at least think about it." he said

"Your world would be easier if i didn't come back" she whispered

"That's true. But it wouldn't be my world without you in it."He said

"years ago I've told you that I'm going to marry you so I can kiss you every time the urge overtakes me. I may have been a vampire but I've been a boy then, a reckless, inappropriate boy," he exhales " I've grown in many other ways. A lot of things have changed since I first met you. I know what I want from life, I'm working hard to achieve it, I'm ready for everything that such life entails. Some things, on the other hand, are still the same," he pulls sway and a soft smile appears on his lips. "I still want to marry you so I can kiss you whenever I want to."

xx

stefan's pov

I can't shake this feeling off, feeling that something is missing.

Some part of me, as equally as essential as an arm or a leg. Or even a heart.

We were trying to go back to our lives as they were, but now I see that's impossible.

It's never going to be as it was before, and it's slowly sinking in to me.

All of this is for nothing. What we're doing now, it's completely pointless.

especially without her.

I forgot how much I love spending time with her and how many things we have in common. How many topics we can discuss because on most we feel the same and even when we don't, we respect each other enough to agree to disagree. I feel free to tell her everything without the fear of being judged by her, and I just know she feels the same.

We're on the same wave length.

and It's not weather I'm in love with her or not, or do I want her or not, it's about her and how every single part of me fits perfectly into her. How my sharp edges fall perfectly into her empty hollows.

I didn't quite realize how much I've missed her during these past few decades. Still, I feel like she was an essential part of me even whenshe wasn't there.

I listen to her as ehe talks.

Her words are sinking into my skin like the water from a melted ice cube.

end of stefan's pov

xx

She knew what was going to happen. He told her that it would be okay if she didn't come back with him, that he would learn and try to live without her. Even if it was impossible for him.

She saw the witch Stefan mentioned. She was really going to do this

xx

please let it have worked. Let us just... be okay. for once

"Elena! Did it work? Are you-?"

"Yeah?"

"Okay. When you guys pass through me, you're going to wake up with your bodies on the other side. I need you to get back here as fast as you can." Bonnie said, reaching out to presumably Elena and Damon. She tensed in agony again. They must have it through.

"Tyler?" she asked hesitantly, Stefan's grey, dead body flashing across her mind once more.

"Yeah! It's me." Tyler smiled.

"Woah..." Tyler muttered,

"What's wrong?" she asked, worried. Was Julian still there?

"That felt different..."

"What do you mean?" she asked, both relieved and confused. This wasn't traveller issues.

Tyler picked up a sharp rock from the ground and sliced his hand with it. He didn't heal anymore.

"You're not healing..."

"I'm not a hybrid anymore." Tyler said, blinking in surprise.

They were both interrupted by Bonnie talking with someone. Turning around, Caroline saw Bonnie reach out to someone.

Suddenly, Stefan appeared, releasing Bonnie's arm. Caroline was about to run to him when she noticed his outfit. She was pretty sure Stefan hadn't been wearing a green jacket or brown boots when he died.

She was also sure that Bonnie was throwing him a look of extreme distaste and curiosity, something she wouldn't be doing, since Stefan hadn't done anything to her. It was when he walked over to a nearby tree, a few feet away from Caroline, she finally realised with a growing dread deep inside her gut who it was.

Tom Avery was back, alive and kicking.

"You killed me"

"Okay, I'm gonna ask what everyone must be thinking. What are you doing here?" asked Tyler pointing at him.

Tom just smirked at him.

"I'm Tom. and well, I am a witch and I helped teach the witch the spell that brought you all back to life."

Caroline had been wrong; there were a lot more surprises in store for her today.

"No, I think he means, why are you waiting here? Why don't you go, none of us matter to you." Caroline snapped. She was still upset over him not being Stefan. but she knew she had no right to be. She helped Enzo kill Tom.

Tom's smirk dropped from his face as he turned his attention to her. She swallowed anxiously. She should really learn to keep her mouth shut in front doppelgangers. Especially since she helped kill him

"I'm waiting for someone, like you," he replied guardedly, fixating his gaze on Bonnie

Suddenly, Alaric passed through and walked toward her and Tyler, smiling. He must be waiting for Damon.

Bonnie had started talking again. "Sorry, Elena, but," she reached out and suddenly Elena was there, a few feet away from her, looking horrified.

"Elena! Thank God!"

But Elena seemed hysterical. "No! Bonnie! Why would you do that?! I can't leave without him!"

"We'll find him!" Bonnie assured her.

"Wait? What's going on? Who are we missing? Where's Stefan?!"

"H-he's waiting for Damon." she stuttered, on the brink of tears. Caroline grew angry at Stefan. He was so selfless, it would destroy him. She wouldn't let it. But it wasn't Damon he was waiting for

Her train of thought was broken by Bonnie coughing violently, hunched over in pain.

Why was Stefan taking so long? She would make Bonnie grab him if necessary.

"Bonnie, are you okay?" Elena approached her, looking anxious.

Bonnie coughed harder, and blood started splattering her hands and she struggled to take in air. She was dying.

"Oh my God. Bonnie?"

Bonnie stumbled sideways, She knocked into someone, and suddenly Stefan appeared, looking shocked. He was holding Bonnie up. Relief overpowered her, buzzing through her veins. She yearned to touch him.

"Lexi said she would wait for him, I'm sorry." he said, guilt flitting over his features. Elena just nodded. Bonnie gave a small, knowing smirk, as though she knew something no-one else did. She had probably been eavesdropping on a conversation that was meant to be private. Caroline didn't care. Nothing mattered, not anymore, now that he was here. She ran human speed, half-sobbing at him, not quite knowing what was possessing her to do so. Stefan smiled and nodded .

"stefan" it was barely above a whisper but he heard it, the voice was unmistakeable.

he turned around and saw those unmistakeable deep brown eyes and feels her body crash against his

He lowers his lips on hers.

I'm home.

He's hungry, there's a hole in the pit of his stomach, and her lips are like warm, tasty, silky blood, right from the vein.

She puts her arms on his shoulders, stretch her palms out so her fingertips are pressing onto the back of his neck. She crashed her hips into his and his chest falls on hers. He takes her into his arms like he owns her, pulling her closer to him.

Stefan. I'm kissing Stefan.

And I never want to stop.

xx

Caroline definetly hadn't seen this coming. She stood there, well aware she probably looked ridiculous gawking in shock at Stefan. This was clearly who he had been waiting for. They embraced tightly, before he kissed her lightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Caroline didn't think she had ever seen Stefan look so happy. She doesn't remember a time when Stefan looked that happy. He'd never been that happy.

Actually Stefan never looked happy. At least now within the past few months. The pair turned and stared at the others warily. Caroline and the others were just staring in shock. She felt as though she was about to faint.

Caroline looked disappointed as well as shocked. Elena looked stunned. Her eyebrows were raised slightly and her doe eyes had widened in what was disappointment? Hurt?

she knew what had to be done.

xx

All of a sudden Katherine stood there, a smug grin on her face, her curls whipping back in the wind.

Tom straightened, a the corner of his lips curving into a soft smile one Caroline had seen once before on Stefan This was clearly who he had been waiting for. Katherine smiled back and ran at him. They embraced tightly, before Tom kissed her lightly. Caroline didn't think she had ever seen Katherine look so happy. It was as if she had stepped into a parallel universe. The pair turned and stared at the others warily.

xx

end of chapter. tbc