Until This Lie Do Us Part

Chapter 30

Elena nodded, scanning the items. All the basics for any sick kid. "Thank you" she said, grabbing Lily's hand and helping her up. "Let's get you home" she said, holding lily close to her.

Half an hour later, Elena had Lily tucked into her bed. She had given Lily what the nurse had recommended, checked her temperature, and read her two stories. Elena took this time to study for her final exams that were coming up rather soon. Although she was excited about graduation, these tests still stood in her way.

Hours later, Stefan made good on his word. He and Damon were walking in the door, still dressed in their business attire and looking exhausted. "She's upstairs sleeping" Elena told them, closing her textbook.

"Thank you so much Elena" Damon said, taking his gloves off. "Katherine is ... out of town for the next few days" he said, choosing his words carefully. "I really didn't want Lily to have to sit at school until I got back."

"You're welcome" she told him, though she was looking at Stefan who was looking at her. "It was no trouble, really."

Damon smiled at her before going upstairs to get Lily. When he came back down, she was still wrapped in her blanket sound asleep with her head resting on his shoulder. Damon grabbed Lily's bag and looked at Stefan. "You should let her stick around" he told Stefan. "She's a great girl" he added before Elena came walking back into the room.

Stefan felt his heart sink just at hearing his brother's words. It wasn't like he hadn't thought about it. But the reality of it was, he was scared. Scared because she was the one person now who could hurt him the most. And he was not ready to give her the power to do that. "Here's the stuff I picked up for her at the store. Everything the nurse had suggested" Elena said, handing Damon the bag.

"Great" Damon said, accepting the bag. "Let me pay you back for everything" he said, reaching for his pocket to take out his wallet.

But Elena immediately stopped him. "No, don't worry about it" she said, turning down his offer right away. "Just get her home and make sure she's comfortable" she added, brushing her hand through Lily's messy curly hair.

Damon eyed Stefan, giving him a knowing look. But Stefan looked away from him, not being able to accept the fact that his brother was right. She was a great girl. "Call us tomorrow and let us know how she's doing" Stefan said, opening the door for him.

"Sure thing" he said before leaving.

Stefan waited until Damon got to the car before shutting the door. Then he sighed. "Really, thank you again for everything" he said, turning to Elena.

"Really, it wasn't a big deal" she said, fixing a button her shirt.

"It is to me" he said, his eyes catching hers off guard. He saw some concern in her eyes. He thought she would change the subject. Anything to avoid having to have a meaningful conversation with him.

"She's kind of part of the package when it comes to being with you" Elena answered instead. "I understand that" she said, smiling softly. There. Right there. When she said things like that, it made Stefan's head scream at him to not be such an idiot. It told him to grab Elena and hold her so tight that she would never be able to get away, even if she tried. Because being with her made more sense than anything else in his life ever had. But, something always seemed to stop him. Fear got in the way of logic. Elena seemed to sense that he was thinking hard about something, so she spoke up to try and get his attention back. "So really, it was no big deal. I'm happy to help out with her" she said.

He had to get out of that room and away from her. Because he knew that if he stayed in there with her for a moment longer, he was going to push her up against that wall behind her and kiss her senseless. So, he simply nodded and walked past her. It had hurt and she didn't know why. She was well aware of how things had to be between them. "Stefan" she said. Stefan stopped. Not just his body, but his heart. When she said his name like that, the affect was immobilizing. "Never mind" she said. "I should get back to studying." Stefan nodded before going upstairs. When he was out of sight, Elena continued to stare ahead of her as she said to herself what she had wanted to say to him. "I love you."