what's meant to be will find a way.

Stefan stared at Belle, his expression softening when he heard her words, but more so when he saw the tears on her face. He wanted nothing more than to reach out and wipe them away and take away any pain she'd felt that he'd caused, but she was already walking out.

For a moment, he turned to look at Elena, checking that she was okay, before he murmured a quiet, "I'll be right back," and darted out after Belle. "Belle!" he called out as he focused on catching up to her, though he eventually moved to block her path. "You don't have to leave, Belle. Stay here in Mystic Falls. It's your home."

---

Eliza's eyes narrowed when she felt Damon's grip on her arm and the veins under her eyes darkened and pulsed as she glared at him. She wasn't hungry, but she was angry and her anger was what had her so on edge. Quickly drawing her arm away from him, she took a step back.

"What do we have left to talk about?" she asked bluntly, "You and your brother have made things clear - you love Katherine and Stefan loves Katherine's lookalike. I have nothing more to say to you. I don't even want to look at you anymore, much less hear you speak, because all it does is hurt and I'm tired of hurting because of you."

@ momentai.
Quickly Belle swiped the tears from her cheeks and looked up at the male that now stood in front of her. Why should she stay? Should she stay just to watch Stefan and Elena be all snuggly and in love? What would she gain out of that other than pain?

"Why so I can watch you and your lady love? I don't think so. Mystic Falls is my home but it is also a very small place. I am staying tonight and then leaving the first thing in the morning. I'm glad to see you have everything you want," with that she moved passed the male and headed back to the centre of town and back to that bar, hopefully the blonde was still there and could show her to the nearest motel to check into for the night.

---

Damon allowed her to snatch her arm away and when the veins around her eyes appeared he knew she was mad, beyond mad. He had to think of something quick, she was back and he really did want to talk to her there were so many things he wanted to talk to her about. He wanted to apologise to her for everything that had happened between the two of them. That he was sorry he wasn't there when she got sick. That he was just extremely sorry for everything he had done and what he had not done.

"Eliza there is so much we need to talk about and running away from it isn't going to help you at all." he paused. "and I am sorry for that but there is so much more that I want... no I need to apologise for. Everything that happened in 1864 you need to know the truth what happened when Katherine got to town. Please... just give me a day and then you can go. Leave. Walk out and never see me again." he was begging and begging was not something Damon Salvatore did often but for Eliza he had to try everything he could think of. And Begging was the answer.

Stefan stared at her, unsure of what to say. Was it so wrong that he was with somebody and happy? As far as he had known, Belle had been dead ever since 1864; he hadn't seen her since then and, even if she had been alive after that year, she should have died of old age, not been dragged into this life.

"Belle," he called when she started to walk away, though he wasn't giving up so easily. Instead, he followed after her with a frown. "You can't hate me forever, Belle. I'm sure you've had relationships yourself since leaving Mystic Falls back then - how can you be upset with me for being in a relationship when I've thought you were dead all this time?"

---

Eliza hated hearing him talk and hated even more that he had the audacity to ask her to listen to his explanation. Why should she have to listen to him? Why should she have to hear any sort of explanation he had? It wasn't fair - didn't he see that? Her fists clenched and she glared at him.

"You only get the day," she said firmly, "It's far more than you ever gave me and it's so much more than you deserve, but it's all you'll ever get from me." She wasn't even sure why she was agreeing to this, but part of her hoped that he would say something that would make her hate him less or even something that would make her hate herself less for having ever loved him.

@ momentai.
Belle looked at Stefan. The truth was Belle had tried to have relationships outside of Mystic Falls but they never worked for one reason or another. One of the main reasons was that they weren't Stefan Salvatore and she knew how bad it was for her to still be pining after a guy for the last century and a bit but she couldn't help it. She had loved him with every ounce of her being. Every breath in her body and she had been ready to be his.

"You're right Stefan, I can't hate you forever. But hate and love are both two strong feelings and there is only a very thin line between both. So maybe I don't hate you, maybe I love you so much that it hurts, maybe I hate myself for not being able to let go, to move on from you, maybe I hate the fact that I can never seem to find the happiness I had with you no matter how hard I try. Believe me I have tried for the last century and a bit I have tried my hardest to let go of you thinking you were locked in a tomb for all these years. Thinking that I would never see you again and that I should move on, I should let the past go. But now, being here and seeing you happy with her... I just... it hurts Stefan and I may be selfish for wanting you still... but I do... and I'm sorry for that..." Belle paused and took a breath before speaking again this time her words were softer. "I will be staying at a hotel and tomorrow I will leave you alone and you will never hear from or see me again I promise Stefan. I'm sorry and I wish you happiness and joy with Elena." with that the brunette turned and walked back to the hotel fighting back the urge to cry, she could do that when she got to the hotel.

---

Damon nodded his head, a day was all he needed, he could say everything he needed to say in a day and hopefully have her hate him less than she already does.

"Of course, yes a day... well I guess I will bid you goodnight..." the urge to grab her hand and kiss her knuckles was strong but he chose not to, not sure that would be the right thing to do. "Are you alright to get to a hotel or do you want me to drop you there?" even though she was a vampire and had incredible abilities he thought it only right to ask.

Seeing Eliza again was a shock, he had honestly thought she had died, thought she had lived out her life, started a family, grew old and passed on. Something Damon would never get the chance to do. However it was something he wished for, something that he would give up everything for, just to be able to grow old and start a family. He wanted to know if Eliza was happy with being a vampire, did she enjoy it. Did she miss her old life? Those were the questions he would ask tomorrow as he had all day. He would get the chance to ask her anything and talk to her about everything they missed out on.

Stefan watched her walk away, his heart clenching painfully. He didn't know what to do to ease her pain. He loved Elena and he had loved Belle - he still did, but he'd thought she was dead all this time. He couldn't just end his relationship with Elena and chase after a past love, he knew that, even when he so desperately wanted to. With a sigh, he ran his hands through his hair in frustration. He didn't know what to do or how to fix this and that just seemed to make things worse for him.

When he couldn't hear her footsteps anymore, he relented to retreating back to his home. Elena eyed him with confusion and concern and he did his best to assure her he was okay, but he suggested that she should go home anyways. He needed time to think and he knew that Elena would only serve to distract him, so he watched her leave before he went to his room.

---

Eliza stared at Damon for a few moments too long before she took a few steps away from him, needing to distance herself the way he had back in 1864. Except, she wasn't distancing herself because she'd fallen in love with another - she needed to distance herself because she still loved this man, this awful, cruel man who'd broken her heart and hadn't cared. Why had she even bothered to agree to his suggestion? She was certain she knew everything he'd tell her tomorrow and that it'd end with something as ridiculous as "Get over it."

But, since she'd already agreed to his idea, she couldn't back out now. That didn't mean that she had to spend a single moment longer with him than she had agreed to, though. "I can get there on my own," she said simply, though she offered no parting words before she turned and allowed herself to indulge in her vampiric speed to get as far away from him as quickly as possible.

@ momentai.
(I am going to move onto the next day )

Belle woke to the sun glaring through her hotel room window, opening her eyes she rolled over pulling her pillow over her head not wanting to move anywhere, she had said to Stefan that she was leaving today and she knew she should but at this moment she was content with laying in the bed. That was until there was a knock on her door. She was quickly on her feet.

"House keeping," came a feminine voice from behind the door. Belle hurried to change back into her clothes.

"Just a minute," she called as she stepped into her clothes and grabbed her items from the bedside counter and walking toward the front door. Pulling it open she saw a young woman, no older than twenty five, she had short black hair and was dressed in a light blue uniform. "Good morning," she smiled before stepping around her and down to the counter where she paid and decided she needed a coffee, she was beginning to get cravings. Coffee could tide her over until she could get the blood she needed.

---

Damon was dressed and pacing as he thought over what he was going to say to Eliza, he was nervous, a feeling he hadn't felt for several years. That was his humanity poking through and it was a very unwanted feeling. Running his fingers through his hair he walked down the stairs thinking everything over. He had a day, one day to try and convey how sorry he really was.

The two hadn't set on a place to meet but one of their favourite places when they were still human was Wickery Bridge, he remembered the way the two of them would talk about their future and it wouldn't include Mystic Falls, once they were married they would pack up and leave and start their lives somewhere else. He had a feeling that was where she would be... He hoped that was where she would be.

When Stefan woke up, he'd been sure that Belle would have left Mystic Falls by now. The thought caused his heart to ache a bit, because he wasn't sure if he'd ever see her again. He should have done more to keep her in Mystic Falls; he should have done more to convince her to stay. Unfortunately, though, he hadn't and, because of that, she was probably long gone. It wasn't like he could really think of anything to say or do to convince her to stay, anyways; she wouldn't want to be around him when he was still in a relationship with Elena. It wasn't something that he could fix.

That didn't stop him from getting ready for the day and going to the only hotel in Mystic Falls in hopes of finding Belle there. Maybe he'd be lucky enough to find that she hadn't left; maybe she'd even give him a chance to talk to her. Maybe they'd fix things. They wouldn't be what they once were, of course, but... He didn't want to completely lose her from his life, either, not after he'd only just gotten her back in his life while he'd thought she was dead all this time. When he got to the hotel, he intended to ask for Belle's room. However, he spotted Belle there at the counter and he found himself frozen as he watched her.

---

Eliza wasn't sure why she was bothering to keep to the agreement. She didn't know why she hadn't just left Mystic Falls the night before and escaped to some other country, even another continent. That's what she should have done; it would have made things so much easier for her in the long run. Instead, though, she was still there, still trying to figure out why she was bothering to give Damon an entire day to explain everything. A sigh left her lips as she got ready for the day and made her way out. Part of her figured that she should head to Damon's home to meet with him, but she still wanted to give herself some time to process what she would do once today ended.

The part of her that wanted to be alone brought her to Wickery Bridge. She could hear the sound of the moving water below and she leaned against the railing, her eyes closing over as she listened to it. For a moment, she could feel the memory of Damon's arms around her and their whispered promises of how their life would be once they were married - where they would go, what they would do, and even the fantasies of the family they would have. None of it had come to pass and, when she thought he was dead, she'd gone to those places alone, built lives of her own. But, even in all those years of being alone, she never felt more alone than she did in that moment, on the bridge where she and Damon had spoke of their dreams and wishes.

@ momentai.
Belle had been paying for overnight bill when she felt a pair of eyes on her, turning her head she saw it was Stefan and instantly she wanted to retreat back to the room she had just exited from but she knew that wasn't an option anymore. Taking in a deep breath she walked toward Stefan.

"Stefan," she greeted wanting her words to come out loud and strong, instead they were soft and she couldn't help the way she looked down at her feet. Even though it had been years the male still caused her heart to race and become all shy. What was he doing here? She wondered, shouldn't he be with his girlfriend keeping her company. She chose not to say anything instead she wanted to enjoy his company for a little while longer. As much as she wanted to stay mad and angry at him just looking at him she couldn't. What had happened and there was nothing she could do to change it now but maybe she could build on their relationship again. She knew it would be hard and it would hurt seeing him with Elena but that was how things were meant to be.

"I was just leaving," she said as she placed her purse back in her bag.

---

Damon had picked up a bunch of her favourite flowers before he had made his way to Wickery Bridge. He had been rehearsing what he was going to say to her in his mind over and over again. Even speaking it out loud to himself. When did Damon Salvatore ever become this person, when was he ever nervous, when did he ever buy flowers these days. Yet here he was nervous as hell and holding a bunch of flowers.

He wasn't very far from the bridge when he looked up and he saw her standing there, she was leaning against the railing he couldn't see her face but he had a feeling her eyes were closed and her thoughts were somewhere else. If they were like his they would be floating back to their past and the times and memories the two shared together.

Taking a deep breath he walked up to her.

"Thank you for coming," was the first thing that left his lips. He waited for her to turn before he gave her the flowers, "If I remember correctly they are your favourite... or were... uhhh..." he stammered over his words. Cursing himself for his behaviour.

Stefan watched her for a few moments, his expression falling when he heard her words. "You don't have to leave, Belle," he reminded her with a frown before he made his way over to her, staring down at her in hopes that being closer might make it easier to come up with the right words to say to get her to stay. "If you wanted to leave that badly, you would have left last night. You want to stay. Otherwise, you wouldn't have stuck around," he told her quietly. And, he was certain of it, honestly.

Eventually shaking his head, he let out a sigh. "Besides, Mystic Falls is your home, Belle. You deserve to stay." He knew it would be hard for her - why wouldn't it be? But, she belonged there. There wasn't a reason for her to feel like she absolutely had no choice but to leave, because she had plenty of options, and she could definitely just stay there.

---

Eliza could feel herself tense up slightly when she heard Damon's voice. A part of her had hoped that the approaching footsteps would have belonged to a stranger, that she wouldn't have had to deal with this straight away. But, when she heard his voice, she knew her luck wasn't all that great today. She listened to him quietly but, for the longest time, she didn't look at him or say anything in response. For now, she just wanted to enjoy the silence and pretend that he wasn't there, that everything was okay.

When she did eventually look over at him, her gaze dropped to the flowers and she eyed them for a moment before she sighed quietly. "I'm here, Damon," she said simply, "So, there's no reason to try to ply me with flowers or anything. I said you'd have a day, that's all you're getting." And then she would leave and not look back, she swore to herself. "So, can we just get today over with?"

@ momentai.
Belle looked up at Stefan, she wanted to be mad for the gall of him, but she couldn't be because he was telling the truth, she could have left yesterday after seeing the brothers again but she didn't. No instead she chose to spend the night in the one motel in this town. Stupidly thinking she wouldn't bump into Stefan again. How wrong had she been.

"You want a coffee?" she tried to change the subject not really sure why she was asking him for coffee. Maybe there was a small part of her that wanted to think there was still a chance between the two of them. When it was blatantly obvious last night that there wasn't. He was with Elena but maybe she could try be civil toward him considering he was right. Mystic Falls was as much her home as his and she was going to enjoy her time here. She was going to stay and go back to all her favourite spots perhaps even visit her parents. "I might go and grab one."

---

"Eliza please I am trying here, the least you could do it stop being so hostile. I bought you flowers. I don't buy any one flowers. I want to make this day as enjoyable as possible. I want to show you that I am not that much of a dick... I honestly never meant to hurt you. I am sorry for everything that happened back in 1864. If I had known then what I know now I never would have left you for that psycho bitch Katherine." the words spilled from his lips as he looked at the dark haired vampire who stood in front of him. "that might not mean much now but please..." he tired a different method. "Do you remember this place? Do you remember everything we used to talk about here?" he asked her.

He remembered the hours the two had spent on this bridge whether they be sitting on the stone watching the sun rise or standing watching the sun disappear. They would talk about everything that had happened in their day, they would talk about their future. She had been the only one he had ever done that with. He had never been as heel with Katherine as he had been with her. She was the only person he had told about his father. The only person he had truly opened up to. This was one of the most significant places in Mystic Falls.

Stefan watched her for a moment, observing her, before he eventually offered a small nod. “Uh, yeah, coffee sounds good,” he decided, though he shook his head. “I can get it, though. I don’t mind.” He figured that it was the least he could do, especially since she’d been so set on leaving. Moving to stand, he offered a small smile to her. “What kind of coffee would you like?” He arched a brow with mild curiosity, watching her for a moment. For a moment, though, he was a little worried that, the moment he walked away, she might try to run away. Of course, it was her choice if she tried that - he wouldn’t blame her if she did. But, he couldn’t really say that he wanted her to leave, because he didn’t. He wanted her there, so that they could talk and catch up and try to move past this.

They had so much history and he wasn’t really sure that it’d be easy to move past what he’d done to her, how much he had hurt her, but he didn’t want her leaving Mystic Falls, her home, because of him. He didn’t want her leaving without them at least trying to come to an understanding. He needed her to understand - and the thing he needed her to understand the most was that he’d never meant to hurt her, because he hadn’t. She’d meant so much to him back then and he hated himself for hurting her as much as he had.

---

Eliza could feel her jaw clench and she refrained from pointing out that she couldn’t just forget what had happened in the past, that it wasn’t easy to move past that. She still felt the pain of her heartbreak every day and, really, it was even worse now because she was back in Mystic Falls, where all the memories were, and Damon was there and alive when she’d thought he’d been dead all this time. Looking over to him, she refrained from commenting on his words, not wanting to lash out but still not really wanting to be here, either. It hurt too much, even more than she really cared to admit, but there wasn’t really anything that she could do about it and she hated that more than anything. She hated feeling this… Helpless. She wasn’t used to it and hadn’t felt this way since leaving Mystic Falls.

Sighing out, she looked back over the railing, staring at the water for a few moments. “If I didn’t remember it all, I wouldn’t have come here,” she pointed out quietly, “But I wish I didn’t remember. Remembering only makes being here hard and painful and I hate it. I hate this feeling and I hate being back in Mystic Falls. That’s not going to change - you get that, don’t you? You chased after Katherine all this time, even though you just called her a psycho bitch. When did you even decide she was a psycho bitch? Last night, when I told you it was your own fault for believing she’d been waiting for you? You spent every day since 1864 trying to get her and I spent every day trying to forget you. You admitted that you’d still been chasing her all this time and you expect me to just believe that she means nothing to you now? Oh, but, then again, we were engaged, we were happy, but I did end up meaning nothing to you the moment she showed up. So, maybe it’s not too far-fetched, but that doesn’t make anything any better.”