WHO: Stefan & Vlad WHAT: New Years in Virginia. Feelings and kisses. WHERE: Off the island, at the ranch across the country WHEN: Week 14; Thursday night RATING: High STATUS: Complete
He'd needed this a lot more than he thought he did--to just get away from the island, from recent memories. To escape and breathe. Stefan wasn't allowed to think on this trip, or at least not to think about people who have hurt him. This was for him and Vlad was sure to tell him, even silently, that he was allowed to be selfish right now and he had to be to focus on his healing.
So he had been.
As if nothing had changed in the past months, Stefan woke up early each morning, setting about duties that couldn't have been far from a chore for him. He'd let the dogs out with him to go check on the horses just as dawn was coming up, and he'd meet with Vlad's hired help--all very kind, conscious people with an obvious passion for this kind of work.
He was comforted and less dragged down than Vlad had ever seen him. He'd smiled, laughed, opened up like a book to his Master, even if it was only a page or two at a time. But it wasn't just about learning who Stefan Salvatore really was, because he was also getting to further know the man who had taken him in. And if Vlad was anything, he was an interesting read.
Now, settling beside the older vampire on the balcony of the Antebellum-style ranch house, Stefan found himself smiling into the rim of his cup while he took a drink. It'd been a good week so far and he hardly wanted it to end, probably because it was easy to pretend out here that nothing was wrong--or maybe that was because he was free from guilt for just a little while. Whatever it was, he was content in watch as Vlad played with the dogs before the fireworks a few miles away in Mystic Falls went off, like they always did for the New Year. His Australian shepherds, Nico and Norah, had their heads perked up at his Master, while the the adopted beagle, Calli, was so excited for the possibility of treats that her entire body was shaking from the wagging of her tail.
Stefan couldn't stop himself from snorting. "At this rate, it's going to be the new year before they get their treats."