Two months had passed for Elena since Stefan and Damon moved temporarily to Kenya for Stefan's detoxification. The Salvatore family had some tourist franchises in different spots of the world, including Bora Bora, Tahiti and Florence, Italy. She counted the time down in her head as she slung her purse strap over her shoulders. It was two months, fourteen hours and fifteen minutes give or take a few seconds.

The breeze gently blew the white curtains in her bedroom. She smiled. White was a good choice for her chemise top with a laced border to accent the low neckline. Her black jeans perfectly fit her curvy hips while she slid her hands down the smoothness of the material.

Elena picked up her diary and placed it in the drawer. Enough was written in it. How both brothers captured her heart off guard. How one brother sealed her love for him and the other tantalized her. Who wouldn't choose both of them. She couldn't blame Katherine because they were both amazing from the start.

Stefan was the one that pierced her heart with his emerald green eyes, sad smile that brightened her sun, sweet nose with a cute point, and ever-brooding forehead that carried the weight of his choices.

The sun blazed through the window on her back when she turned to shut the door.

"Hey, a century will pass if you don't hurry down!" That was Jenna yelling at the bottom of the stairs.

Elena raced down the stairs, glad to see her aunt smiling and a twinkle in her eye. She wore a peach crisp sleeveless blouse with navy blue jeans.

"It took you long enough," Jenna said when Elena finally hopped off the last step.

"I'm wondering if you're more happy to see Damon than Alaric."

Jenna smirked and shook her honey blonde hair. "Humph, Damon better hurry up because I've got to leave for some serious shopping. At least, I'd like to say hi to him."

"No problem. I'll tap my foot and Damon will appear out of mid air." Elena smiled, her heart experiencing a Hallmark moment.

It was good to banter like that with her aunt. Jenna kept Elena earthbound and she liked it after not having Stefan around. Even though he called, emailed or text nearly every day, she missed him so much until her heart burst. Days were miserable until Damon would check in on her every other week.

The sun stung Elena's eyes as she stepped outside with Jenna.

"Looks like a great day for shopping," Jenna said, shading her eyes. She looked down and commenced burrowing through her tote bag. "I'd better get my sunglasses."

Elena turned to the side and grabbed for a pair from her shoulder bag. She didn't pay attention to the soft humming of a car engine that just pulled up, it probably was parking across the street. She kept navigating her fingers around her compact, wallet, pens. They should be at her fingertips.

Oops! Wrong compartment!

She looked up to get her bearings and nearly jumped out of her skin with Jenna.

"Hello there, ladies," Damon said with his signature smile that slid to one side of his face. Confidence oozed from his stance. The Salvatore brothers were breathtaking, especially Damon standing right in front of her, sleek in his navy blue suit that contrasted against the blue sky. His ebony hair shined like the black sedan parked on the curb. Her heart shouldn't triple beat like that.

"Damon! You scared us!" Elena saw Jenna had dropped her tote and its contents littered the driveway.

Jenna popped up from scooping everything back in her bag. She brushed off her jeans and flipped her hair back.

"You didn't scare me." Her aunt of all people gave Damon a winning smile.

He lifted is right eyebrow. "I want in on the party." His grin slanted to the left. If Damon were family, she would've hugged him for a long time, maybe even cried on his shoulder. His Brooks Brothers navy blue suit framed his fit body perfectly. It must've been hard for Katherine.

"You've got first invitation, Damon. Jenna's just got engaged to Alaric!" Elena said.

"Isn't that great!" Jenna chimed, her gray eyes twinkled, begging for approval from Damon.

"Monumental! It's sooooo Indiana Jones," Damon shook his shoulders, "and June Cleaver!" He made up for the June Cleaver remark by taking her hand into his with such pseudo sincerity it made Elena choke. "Congrats!" He gently took Jenna's hand and kissed it while appearing to admire her, looking into her eyes.

Jenna turned beet red and grinned like an obsessed fan girl. Her aunt, guardian, and now engaged to Alaric put her hand to her chest and gasped.

"Ladies, I'll be right back. Stefan wanted me to bring a package for you, Elena. Jenna? It's time to fetch." Damon pivoted on his heel and walked to the car like he purchased the whole real estate of Mystic Falls suburbia. His jacket flapped in rhythm as he strode to the car.

"Hot! That's one Burning Hot Man!" Jenna fanned herself from the imaginary heat. Elena felt it too.

"Well, don't get your gander up. He's more narcissist than hot." Elena giggled. "You need to stop it!" She nudged her auntie in the arm. "You're going to be a married lady!"

"I can look, can't I? Look! He's an eye full. Speaking of eyes. He's got those drop dead baby blues. Ohhhh, my weakness."

Elena scowled at Jenna and turned to see Damon's dark figure standing next to the sedan parked at their curb.

"You know, our little boy lost wants you to take care of this package," Damon yelled across the lawn. "Don't break it because if you do, I won't tell!" He laughed.

........................................

He could hear every word from burning hot man to baby blues. He took himself out of the dark canopy of the car and squinted at the sun. Good thing for the lapis ring that kept him from turning to ashes. His dead heart jumped into gear, revved like an engine in the 500 Indianapolis. Anticipation made his palms sweaty. He squeezed his hand, flexed them open again. It was time.

Stefan held his breath. His gaze found her standing, waiting, and tense. Her hands were at her side, her breathing increased,  in and out. Then her breathing stopped as he reached the curb and his shaking legs nearly collapsed while walking toward her.  

Then Stefan's emotions exploded like a monsoon. Elena yelled out his name and came running toward him. He forgot what he was and at vampire speed, ran toward her. His mouth found hers. Her kisses matched his urgency while their tongues intertwined and burst into a rapturous joy. The sweet taste of Pepsi, apple, cheese, and celery tickled his senses. He wanted more and his kisses first soft became hard. She grabbed his hair, pulled it. He loved the pain.  And he thought he died again. Stefan picked her up and swung her around. He caressed her hair, forehead, chin  and snuggled against Elena's warm cheek.

"I missed you so much," Stefan breathed into her neck.

"I was about to come down to Kenya and bring you back."

Those words riveted him and the shock traveled from his heart and slammed into his groin. "I couldn't ... I couldn't ... wait, not one more second. It felt worse than misery without you."

He kissed her again, smelled that wonderful aroma mixed with almonds, limes and pears. He also took a whiff of soft florals and vanilla that tantalized his nostrils. Elena wore her favorite Burberry Brit perfume that he loved.

Stefan gently cradled her face as her hair like a waterfall blanketed his hands and he slowly came down to her to kiss again.

"Ohhhhhhh, please get a room!" Damon said, rolling his eyes. "Come on, let's break this up." Damon put his hand on Stefan's shoulder. "Elena, say bye bye to auntie dearest." He turned to his brother.  "Stefan, you'll have to hitch a ride with your girlfriend because I've got some ladies on the wild side to tend to."

Damon tipped an imaginary hat toward Jenna and bowed theatrically. Then he came to Stefan's other side.

"Little bugle boy, you blow one wrong note and she's mine." Damon nearly growled that in Stefan's ear.

"Not if I can help it." Stefan steeled himself. He felt his face muscles go rigid. "But I thank you for everything you've done. I wouldn't have lived without your help." His face relaxed.

Damon smirked. "Well, little bro, at least Elena won't be worshiping a dead hero. So let the battles begin again."