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"Elena?"Stefan said quietly "Could you ask me to come in?

You have to invite me in if you want to - to talk - "

Invite him in? He was already in - inside her heart She had told the Guardians that everyone would have to accept Stefan as her boyfriend of almost a year

It didn’t matter In a low voice she said, "Come in, Stefan"

"The ’s locked from your side, Elena"

Numbly, Elena unlocked theThe nextarms in a desperate, fervent e her frozen and lonely

"Stefan? What’s wrong?"Her eyes had adapted and by the starlight through theshe could see hi before her

"I can’t - It isn’t - It’s not me you want,"he said in a rush that sounded as if it cah a constricted throat "But I wanted you to know that - that Meredith and Matt are holding Bonnie Co her, I ht that you - "

"They put me to sleep! They said they wouldn’t put me to sleep!"

"You fel asleep, lo - Elena While aiting for thee, and I"He was Stillspeaking in that forht want to talk tonight, too Before I - I left"He put a finger up to stop his lip fro

"You swore you wouldn’t leave me!"Elena cried "You proth of time, no matter how noble the cause!"

"But - Elena - that was before I understood"

"You Stilldon’t understand! Do you know - "

His hand flew to cover her mouth and he put his lips to her ear "Lo - Elena We’re in your house Your aunt - "

Elena felt her eyes widen, although of course subconsciously she had known this al along The air of familiarity This bed - it was her bed, and the spread was her beloved gold and white bedspread The obstacles she’d kno to avoid in the dark - the tapping at her she was ho section of rock, and almost fal en, Elena felt a tremendous rush of adrenaline And it was this - or, perhaps, sih her - that achieved what she had been so clu to reach She felt her soul expand and come out of her body And meet Stefan’s

She was appal ed by the hastily swept-away desolation in his spirit, and hue of love that flooded every part of him at the touch of her ive ive ain - if you just give it a little time

I’m already happy with you But we have all the tiht the shadow of a dark thought whisked quickly out of the way He had al the time in the world She, however

Elena had to choke back a laugh but then clutched at Stefan suddenly My backpack - did they take it? Where is it?

Right beside your nightstand I can reach it Do you want it?

He reached in the darkness and pul ed up so Elena thrust one frantic hand inside it while Stillholding on to Stefan with the other

Yes! Oh, Stefan, it’s here!

He was beginning to suspect - but he only knehen she drew out the bottle labeled Evian Water and held it to her cheek It was icy cold, although the night was lowed in a way that no ordinary water did

I didn’t ht not like to associate with a thief At least - not at first Sage said to get the water fro up a big bottle and this little one, and somehow I stashed the s one in, too, but it didn’t fit And I didn’t even think about the little one again until after they took away ht If they had caught you -