One month. Elena knew she had been in LA for one month because her co-workers had flooded her office with balloons and flowers to congratulate her for making it past the introductory training for the new job. Now, for the most part, she would be working on her own. And she was ready to do so.
Everything about the day was perfect. Her co-workers brought her lunch. They congratulated her every time they bumped into her in the hallway. She felt like she deserved this recognition too. She had put as much time and effort into this job as she possibly could. Though it wasn't hard when she had a reason to work so much. A need to keep her mind distracted.
Stefan still hadn't returned her calls. She gave up two weeks ago after two weeks of calling every day, leaving messages every day, and every day, hearing nothing back. So, she gave up finally. It became easier to forget until she would run across a photo of them – though there weren't many – and then she would break down into tears. Because when all was said and done, she still loved him, despite how hurt she was that he wouldn't even call her.
Elena knew that she had hurt Stefan too. She sometimes thought about what life would be like right now if she had decided to stay with Stefan in Mystic Falls. Would he treat her the same way for the rest of their lives? Part of her wanted to question his loyalty to her, especially when she thought about his partying tendencies and all of the women that kept him company. Then again, he hadn't partied or met up with any women the whole six months that he was married to her. But could he stay away from all of that forever? She really hated all this doubt that had built up inside of her.
Stefan had also been hell bent on not wanting a family of his own. Elena wanted kids of her own. Two. One boy and one girl. It saddened her to think that they wanted such different things, even though they were in love. Well, maybe she was the only one still in love. Maybe Stefan had moved on with a woman who didn't want a family and who just wanted to spend his money and warm his bed. The thought made her sick.
Elena still hadn't collected her one million dollars. She remembered back when she had been so eager to have that much money. She was going to make sure Bonnie and Jeremy were taken care of, but Bonnie had made it clear that they didn't need Elena taking care of them. Elena had planned on buying her family home back, but now that she was in California, she didn't think it would be very practical to own a home clear across the country. She had also planned to pay off her student loans with the money Stefan owed her. Then he went and paid her loans for her as a graduation present.
So now, the money would only serve to make her feel guilty because she had broken the rules and fallen in love with him. He had done so much for her. He loved her and protected her. But most of all, he had believed in her. So, taking his money was no longer an option. It wouldn't be right.
Her thoughts were interrupted by one of her co-workers tapping on her door. "Come in" Elena smiled, even though she didn't feel like smiling anymore today.
"I just wanted to congratulate you again" the woman smiled. "A few of us were going out for drinks. Did you want to join us?" she asked, walking further into the office.
Elena shook her head. "I think I am going to stay in this evening, but thank you" she replied politely.
"Okay" the woman said cheerfully. She was about to exit the room when she noticed a framed photo sitting on Elena's desk that she hadn't seen before. "Who's this cutie?" she asked, grabbing the photo and picking it up.
Elena's heart hurt quite a bit just thinking about Lily. The little girl had continued refused to take her calls and like with Stefan, Elena had eventually given up. "My niece, Lily" she told her. It was weird to call Lily her niece, seeing as how she never had in the past. But technically, she was Lily's aunt. "She'll be seven in a few months." Elena secretly wondered if she would get an invite. If Lily would even want her there. If anyone would want her there.
"She's the most precious thing I have ever seen!" she woman gushed. "I didn't know your brother had a child" she said, turning her attention back to Elena.
"He doesn't" Elena answered. "She's my husband's niece."
"Oh" the woman said, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation now. What little Elena had told the office about her marriage to Stefan was hardly ever discussed at a later time. Elena often described her and Stefan as being separated and needing some space. That is the excuse she used when one of her male co-workers had asked her out on a date. He was a nice enough guy. He just wasn't Stefan. It was hard to move on when your heart was somewhere else.
In reality though, Elena knew that her marriage was over. That was why she had stopped wearing her wedding ring. She had cried herself to sleep the first night she took it off and placed it in the top drawer of her dresser. "Well, have a good night in" her co-worker said, bidding Elena goodbye and disappearing out of the room. Elena sighed. It felt so forced to bring up Stefan in a conversation with anyone. It was difficult just thinking about him.
So it really was no surprise to her then when she received a large envelope from a Mr. John Henderson, Stefan's lawyer from New York. She had ran across his name a few times when she had first met Stefan because Stefan had been so concerned about protecting what was his. Elena had wondered how long it would take for Stefan to sign the divorce papers and get her a copy too. She had to laugh when she saw the high cost of postage on the envelope. The lawyer had sent it overnight. Apparently, Stefan couldn't stand to be married to her for one more day.
She stared at the envelope on her desk for a moment, knowing what it was, but not wanting to open it just yet. A failed marriage, before her 24th birthday. She laughed at the thought. A failed fake marriage, rather. When she thought about it, she had been a pretty lousy wife. She couldn't cook and she only ever did her own laundry. She was so focused on school that Stefan's needs probably were second to her own. Then, the best of all occurred. She had run out on him. Yes, she definitely did not deserve to be called wife of the year.
But Elena knew she needed to open the envelope and sign the divorce papers. The sooner, the better. For both of them. She wasn't moving back. He wasn't speaking to her. It was time to officially move on.
She stared at the envelope once again before grabbing it and tearing it open. She pulled out a small stack of papers, each page flagged with a sticky tab, indicating where she needed to sign or initial. But as she glanced at the first page, her brow furrowed. These weren't divorce papers. No. These were something completely different.
They were papers designating her as the beneficiary to Stefan's estate. She flipped through the pages frantically, reading over everything she was entitled to upon his death. His bank accounts, stocks, various properties and houses she didn't know about, his car, his share in the family business, and even the 12 million dollars he had just inherited. What really confused her was that no one else was listed in the document to receive anything from Stefan. Not Damon and really surprisingly, not Lily.
It didn't make sense. He wasn't even speaking to her. Maybe, she thought, he appointed her as the beneficiary and had given her everything to make their marriage look more real in the beginning and he just forgot to undo it. His lawyer probably just got confused and sent her a copy. Yes, that made sense. But, she was going to call his lawyer just to confirm.
Elena dialed the number provided and waited impatiently for him to pick up. "John Henderson speaking" a voice said.
"This is Elena Gil ... Salvatore" she corrected. "I just received some legal documents from your office" she stated.
"Ah, yes, Mrs. Salvatore" he said. She almost flinched at the sound of her last name. "Did you have any questions concerning what you needed to sign?" he asked.
She was dumbfounded. "Yes, actually. Why am I being sent these documents?" Elena asked, picking up a page and examining it.
"Well, Mr. Salvatore revised the documents yesterday afternoon. He asked me to get you the revised copies as soon as possible" he explained without exactly answering her question.
"But why?" Elena asked. That was the real question. Why would Stefan be thinking about his will and why on earth would be appoint her as the beneficiary and to receive everything?
"Mrs. Salvatore, I am not at liberty to discuss Mr. Salvatore's personal affairs" he kindly told her. "I am responsible for his legal ones" he answered. "So, is there anything you need help with concerning the documents?" he asked her.
Elena knew she couldn't sign them. She and Stefan probably wouldn't even be married much longer. "I'm not signing these without an explanation" she told him. Actually, she wasn't signing them at all. She didn't want anything of his. She didn't deserve anything.
"Well then, I would suggest that you speak with Mr. Salvatore" he told her. "If you have no more questions, I really must be going."
"No, I don't" she answered. "Thank you" she said before hanging up. She sighed, leaning back in her chair for a few minutes.
Then she dialed Stefan's number, knowing he wasn't going to pick up. He didn't. She tried Damon's number too and nothing.
Elena rested her head on her desk and closed her eyes. It was Friday. She was supposed to be going home and relaxing for the weekend.
Instead, she was going back to Mystic Falls.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Elena thanked the taxi driver for the ride and gave him a generous tip for having to drive way out to the middle of nowhere. She grabbed the single bag that she packed and made her way up to the Boarding House. Stefan's car was there and she hoped that meant that he was home. When she got up to his door, she stopped. Was she supposed to knock? What if he had company, namely, female company? She shuddered at the thought.
She let herself on in, feeling a boost of confidence as she held the obnoxious documents in her hand. "Stefan?" she asked. Downstairs seemed quiet. Elena made her way upstairs and walked towards his room. She passed by her old room and noticed it was exactly how she left it. But she kept walking.
He wasn't in his room and from what she could tell, he wasn't upstairs either. Elena went back outside and checked the barn. He wasn't there either, but she did feed the horses a handful of grain. Elena took her phone out and called him again. Still no answer.
Frustrated, Elena called Damon. When he did finally answer, it sounded really busy in the background. "I'm looking for Stefan. Do you know where he is?" Elena asked, listening hard because it was so hard to hear.
"Elena?" Damon asked through all the noise. "Where are you?" he asked, moving to a quieter area.
"I'm at the Boarding House. Where are you?" Elena asked.
"You're in Mystic Falls?" he asked, his voice clouded with anxiety and confusion. Never a good combination in Elena's opinion.
"Yeah, I received some documents from Stefan's lawyer and I flew out here to discuss them seeing as how I can't get ahold of Stefan" Elena explained. "Seriously, Damon, where are you?" she asked. "I can barely hear you."
"I'm ..." he began, only to be interrupted by someone. "The doctor would like to speak with you about your brother now" Elena heard a woman say.
Elena zoned in on the words "doctor" and "brother" almost instantly. "Damon?" she asked. "What's going on?" she asked.
There was a pause and then an exhausted sigh. "Stefan's in the hospital. He's ... not doing very well Elena" he told her. Another sigh. "If I were you, I would get to the hospital now" he added. Elena could hear more people talking to Damon. "Elena I have to go" Damon said, hanging up on her before she could protest.
Elena stared at her phone, her hand shaking. She was extremely confused and even more scared. But she tried to call Damon again, knowing he wouldn't pick up. She went back to the house to search for Stefan's keys, finding them hanging up in the kitchen where he always left them. She left her bag where she dropped it and took off out of the house.
Her thoughts were racing. So many things were running through her head. Was there an accident? =
She stopped in her tracks a few feet before she reached his car. Her mind flashed back over the postage on the envelope Stefan had sent to her. It had been overnighted. There would have been no need to send it that quickly unless something was terribly wrong.
Unless ... he had reason to believe that he wasn't going to live.