Phantom

But apparently they had no problem with Stefan in this world, because Robert simply nodded. And, she reminded herself, if the Guardians had done what she asked, Mr. Tanner was alive, so they couldn’t have suspected Stefan of kil ing him… Oh, it was al so confusing!

She went on: "We’re going to hang out in town, maybe catch up with Meredith and the others." She couldn’t wait to see the town back to its old, safe self and to be with Stefan when, for once, they weren’t battling some horrible evil but could just be a normal couple.

Aunt Judith grinned. "So, just another lazy day, hmm? I’m glad you’re having a nice summer before you go off to col ege, Elena. You worked so hard al last year."

"Mmm," said Elena vaguely, cutting into her waffle. She hoped the Guardians had gotten her into Dalcrest, a smal col ege a couple hours away, as she’d requested.

"Come on up, Meggie," Robert said, buttering the little girl’s waffle. Margaret scrambled up onto her chair, and Elena smiled at the obvious affection on Robert’s face. Margaret was clearly his darling little girl. Catching Elena’s eye, Margaret growled and thrust the toy tiger across the table toward her. Elena jumped. The little girl snarled, and her face was momentarily transformed into something savage.

"He wants to eat you with his big teeth," Margaret said, her little-girl voice hoarse. "He’s coming to get you."

"Margaret!" Aunt Judith scolded as Elena shuddered. Margaret’s briefly feral look reminded her of the kitsune, of the girls they had driven mad. But then Margaret gave her a huge grin and made the tiger nuzzle Elena’s arm. The doorbel rang. Elena crammed the last bite of waffle into her mouth. "That’s Stefan," she mumbled around it.

"See you later." She wiped her lips and checked her hair in the mirror before opening the door.

And there was Stefan, as handsome as ever. Elegant Roman features, high cheekbones, a classical straight nose, and sensual y curving mouth. He held his sunglasses loosely in one hand, and his leaf green eyes caught hers with a gaze of pure love. Elena broke into a wide, involuntary smile.

Oh, Stefan, she thought to him, I love you, I love you. It’s so wonderful to be home. I can’t stop missing Damon and wishing we could have done something differently and saved him – and I wouldn’t want to stop thinking of him –

but I can’t help being happy, too.

Wait. She felt like someone had slammed on the brakes and she’d been thrown against a seat belt.

Though Elena was sending the words, and a huge wave of affection and love with them, toward Stefan, there was no response, no return of emotions. It was as if there were an invisible wal between her and Stefan, blocking her thoughts from reaching him.

"Elena?" Stefan said aloud, his smile faltering. Oh. She hadn’t realized. She hadn’t even thought about this.

When the Guardians took her powers, they must have taken everything. Including her telepathic connection to Stefan. It had lingered… She was sure she had stil heard him, and reached his mind, after she had lost her connection to Bonnie. But now it was gone completely. Leaning forward, she grasped his shirt, pul ed him to her, and kissed him fiercely.

Oh, thank God, she thought, as she felt the familiar, comforting sense of their minds entwining. Stefan’s lips curled into a smile beneath hers.

I thought I’d lost you, she thought, that I wouldn’t be able to reach you like this anymore, either. Unlike with the telepathic connection they’d shared, she knew the thoughts weren’t reaching Stefan as words but as images and emotions. From him, she felt a wordless, steady stream of unfailing love.

A throat was cleared pointedly behind them. Elena reluctantly released Stefan and turned to see Aunt Judith watching them.

Stefan straightened with an embarrassed blush, the slightest look of apprehension in his eyes. Elena grinned. She loved that he’d been through hel  – literal y – but was stil scared to upset Elena’s aunt. She put her hand on his arm, trying to send a message that Aunt Judith now accepted their relationship, but Aunt Judith’s warm smile and greeting said it for her.

"Hel o, Stefan. You’l be back by six, won’t you, Elena?"

Aunt Judith asked. "Robert’s got a late meeting, so I thought you, Margaret, and I could go out for a girls’ night together." She looked hopeful yet hesitant, like someone knocking on a door that might be slammed in her face. Elena’s stomach knotted with guilt. Have I been avoiding Aunt Judith this summer?

She could imagine that, if she hadn’t died, she might have been eager to move on with her life and chafed at the family that wanted to keep her home and safe. But this Elena knew better – knew how lucky she was to have Aunt Judith and Robert. And it seemed that this Elena had a lot of making up to do.

"Sounds like fun!" she said cheerful y, pasting a bright smile on her face. "Can I invite Bonnie and Meredith?

They’d love a girls’ night." And it would be nice, she thought, to have friends around who were as clueless about what had been going on in this version of Fel ‘s Church as she was.

"Wonderful," Aunt Judith said, looking happier and more relaxed. "Have a good time, kids."

As Elena headed out the door, Margaret ran out of the kitchen. "Elena!" she said, wrapping her arms tightly around Elena’s waist. Elena bent and kissed the top of her head.

"I’l catch you later, bunny rabbit," she said. Margaret motioned for Elena and Stefan to kneel down, then put her lips right next to their ears. "Don’t forget to come back this time," she whispered before retreating inside.

For a moment, Elena just knelt there, frozen. Stefan squeezed her hand, pul ing her up, and even without their telepathic connection, she knew they were having the same thought.