Until This Lie Do Us Part

Chapter 35

Elena laughed slightly. "You always could give a good compliment" she told him. Even as he was lying here in pain, he was so focused on her. It made her heart hurt that much more.

"You're easy to give compliments to" he smiled, taking in another sharp breath. His grip on her hand loosened, but she tightened her own hand around his. "So you signed the papers I sent you?" he asked once he felt he was able to.

Elena shook her head no. "No, Stefan. I didn't" she told him, her expression suddenly serious. "First, because you're not going to die" she told him. She refused to believe it, despite what any doctor said. They had been wrong about Jeremy and they sure as hell were wrong about Stefan. "And second, it wouldn't be right for me to take your money, you're houses, your share in the company ..." she listed off. "If anyone should be entitled to that, it's Lily" she reminded him.

Stefan smiled. He knew she was going to put up a fight with this. She had morals and that made him love her even more. "Lily already is entitled to all the money she will ever need" he assured her. From Damon as well as from all that was set aside for her by Zach. The kid would never have to work a day in her life and could still live more than comfortably if she wanted to. Even though Damon, Stefan, and Zach wanted more for her, like an education and a career. The point was, Lily was set up for life.

Elena sighed. "You can't give all of that to me, Stefan" she told him, her eyes searching his. "You haven't even known me that long" she added.

"I've known you long enough to know that I love you" he told her without missing a beat. His eyes remained locked on hers. "I want to know that you will be taken care of financially. That you won't even have to worry about money" he explained. "I just want to make sure you're going to be okay" he said. By this point, both of them were crying.

Elena looked away for a moment, trying to calm her tears but it was no use. They only fell harder. "You think I'm going to be okay without you?" she asked in somewhat of a disappointed tone. Like he was telling her his money and his things were more important than him.

Stefan squeezed her hand as tight as he could, bringing her eyes back to his. "I'm thinking if I don't have a choice here, I will know that you will live comfortably for the rest of your life" he told her. "All I want is for you to find happiness, Elena. And if that means you want to travel around Europe or buy a newspaper or whatever, I'll at least know you can do those things" he explained.

"I want you" Elena said, letting it slip out so effortlessly. She didn't want anything except for him to live. She wiped at her face with the sleeve of her jacket. Another wave of pain washed over Stefan and he momentarily forgot about his conversation with Elena. "Stefan?" she asked when his eyes closed and his breathing became hitched. This time, it seemed to last longer.

"Just promise me, Elena, that you will sign those papers" Stefan said weakly, his eyes still closed as he gasped for air and clutched his stomach.

"Stefan?" Elena asked, panic filling her voice. The pain became worse and Stefan thought he was going to pass out. Elena quickly smacked the call button to get the nurses. They came filing in with the doctor who decided that Elena needed to leave the room.

As a nurse began to pull Elena out of the room, she heard Stefan continue to yell across the room to her. "Promise me Elena!" he yelled. "Promise me!" he said, his words becoming quieter. "Promise."

Then, Elena couldn't hear him anymore. Then, the door shut and she was left standing outside of his room, unaware of what was going on inside. She pressed her hand to the glass as she continued to cry. "I promise" she whispered before closing her eyes and losing herself in her own nightmare.