Stefan touched my leg and I shook out of the daze feeling that burn again "You ok" I nodded mindlessly looking back out the window. I spent a lot of my time like this now, I wasn't really thinking of anything but I felt like I was thinking about everything at the same time. Often times I banished the one thing I shouldn't think of from my mind, there were times I felt like I could feel him, feel his pain. That was only on days I felt bold enough to think he missed me or even thought enough about me being gone. I shook myself from my thoughts clouding my brain and brought myself back to the present. Stefan was reading a book my legs across his lap while Bonnie sat with Damon across the room from us. Damon and Bonnie had gotten increasingly close while I was gone, in the time they'd been looking for me they'd become friends.

Though looking at them now watching who knows what on Bonnie's laptop I wondered just how much had changed between them. I wouldn't mind if they got together they both deserve to be happy "Whatcha thinking about over there" I looked over at Stefan who watched me with a knowing look, I didn't know what to tell him. I felt fine but at the same time I didn't it was this strange feeling I couldn't really place that filled me. I shook my head and smiled as convincingly as I could "I may have to play matchmaker soon" I said sparing the two friends a glance, neither seemed to be paying attention but I knew Damon heard me. Stefan gave me a look and I smiled mischievously and cleared my throat gathering everyone's attention.

"We should go on a hike" I suggested the idea brightening Bonnie up as a witch her connection to nature grew tenfold so she loved going on hikes around the area. She agreed and we got up to get ready only I had a plan for us to suddenly get separated so that Damon and Bonnie could have some time alone. Stefan gave me another look but I gave him one of my own pleading him to help me. He sighed and nodded making me squeal silently I was gonna get these two together today I didn't care what I'd have to do to make it happen but I was going to get my wish. We started the hike and about 5 or 8 minutes into the walk up the mountain near our cabin "I hurt my leg" I said clutching my ankle and rocking back and forth.

"Guys it's a pretty bad sprain I'm gonna take her back" Stefan said following after me I smirked to myself feeling super clever "We'll come with you" I shook my head "NO it's fine Bonnie you love these hikes I don't want you to miss out besides Stefan can take care of my sprain just fine" she nodded slowly before looking at Damon who just shrugged and continued on the hike. Stefan sped off with me stopping somewhere in the woods. We laughed heartily falling over each other "You are a horrible actor" I said to Stefan "Me? How about you could you have yelled NO any louder" we were dying and then we stopped and Stefan leaned in only for me to pull away as I have ever since I got back. 

I thought that coming back with Stefan would weaken the bond and I would eventually forget it's even there but I can't. In fact the low humming I used to feel in my body has been replaced with a dull ache I knew it was because I left him but I'd never tell them that "What is it? Do you not love me anymore? What happened while you were gone?" hurt shining in his eyes I had no answers for him everything I could say would only hurt more. I truly had nothing good for him "Stefan I just don't feel it anymore I was hoping that when I got back here everything would come rushing back but Virginia, you, none of this feels the same" he watched me for a moment before getting up and leaving me to my thoughts. 

I sighed deciding to just sit on the tree stump I saw not far from where I was standing. I knew where I was and how to get back but I wasn't ready to just yet "I thought the two of you would be together by now I guess it's my fault that's not working out huh" my entire body hummed again just hearing his voice, I shuddered turning to see him leaning on a tree "Klaus? What are you doing here? How did you find me?" he gave me a look walking closer to me "Come now sweetheart I never lost track of you" I frowned "You knew where I was all this time but you didn't come for me why?" I asked confusion sinking in deep "I heard what you said to Elijah about trying to make the best of the cards you'd been dealt I didn't want.... I didn't like knowing you were settling for me so I let you leave if you wanted to be with Stefan then so be it I would have to allow it" I listened to him shock ringing in my mind.

"What made you show yourself today?" he didn't answer instead taking his time to look me over. I had changed my hair curled the ends and dyed a couple streaks of my hair red. I wanted to give myself some edge "Interesting choice in color" I shrugged "It's a rinse I just wanted to see how it would look" he stared at it with a blank expression "I actually quite liked your hair without it" he's surprised me again, I though if anything he'd like that boring old Elena decided to change her hair but he didn't. And he let me go because he knew how desperately I wanted to, Klaus did something selfless for me? He was close enough to touch now but didn't make any moves to touch me like I expected I pursed and bit my lip before I wrapped my arms around him. It was like having water after walking through the desert, or having something to eat after fasting for a month.

Instant relief.

The void I'd felt being here suddenly filled, I buried my face in his shirt just breathing him in and he did the same burying his face in my neck. We stayed like that for a while before he pulled away looking in my eyes. His proximity reminded of things I wasn't sure I wanted to remember. His fingers grazed my face and my eyes fluttered closed I knew what I wanted for the first time in a long time I knew and I wasn't afraid. His lips brushed mine and I pushed up a little making them touch. The shocks going through my body forced a moan of satisfaction from my lips. And a growl coming from him forced my legs to buckle becoming weak under his touch. He sped us to a tree picking me up running his hands over my body.

My legs locked around him and I moaned breathlessly pulling at his hair while he attacked my neck. I could feel my mark again sending forbidden thoughts to me. Flashes of that went by in my brain and I remembered how it felt to be close him. Impossibly close. Yet I couldn't go that far I missed him but not that bad. He must've read my thoughts pulling my lip into his mouth before pulling away completely and setting me down. We both made a small whimpering sound being pulled away from each other but it had to happen. He never let go of my hand though my fingers still locked with his "Are you going to admit you've missed me yet love" he said breathlessly, his eyes the same beautiful blue I remember but currently slightly darker.

"Are you" I whispered making him smile a little "Come back with me" he whispered catching me off guard. His question wasn't the surprising part, the surprise was how easily I almost said yes. It was damn near second nature to throw myself at him and plead him to take me far away. When Stefan came for me all that time ago I'd left hoping that my old life would be enough for me. I'm seeing now how wrong I was, my life was always empty it always had something missing even though I had always had so much. I wanted what Bonnie had, what me and Stefan had. Love. Yet I didn't love Stefan anymore, I don't know how he did it but he had me exactly where he wanted me.

"Please. Elena" I looked up at him seeing the desperation behind his facade. He needed me just as badly as I needed him "Elena" my hand instinctively dropped his as Bonnie ran up on us. She paused looking between us both nervously "How did you find us" I looked over at Klaus who was still watching me hurt clear on his face. He turned to Bonnie showing off his signature smirk "I've come to collect my doppelganger. You've had your fun with her now I've come to take her back" Bonnie pulled me away from him and I hit my lip to supress a wince from the complete loss of his closeness. He narrowed his eyes at me as I ran over what to do in my head "She's not going anywhere with you" Klaus looked at me as if to ask is that true and I couldn't bring myself to look at him.

I was at an impasse, if I left with him I would expose the truth. And I finally realized what I was truly afraid of. The looks I would get, the hate, the disappointment of my family and friends. They hated him and they would hate me for falling for him. Falling for him? Is that what I've done "Very well keep her then" his tone made me flinch as I saw him turn to leave fear ram through my body. I could feel in my bones that if he left I'd never see him again. He flashed away as soon as I stepped forward "Klaus!" I screamed "Please don't leave me" I said his absence dining deep in me, I didn't want to stay. Why didn't I tell him that I didn't want to stay?