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When Cordelia woke up the next day, her body felt sore and her head was aching but the bullet wound was gone. She looked around to see Stefan sitting by the bed with his journal in one hand and a pen in the other as he wrote about his recent experiences. "What's wrong?" Cordelia asked Stefan knowing immediately that he was on edge for some reason. "I'm okay. How are you feeling?" Stefan asked hoping to dodge Cordelia's questions, she had been through something tough and he wasn't there; he felt guilty for not stopping Damon from letting her get involved. "I'm alive. Now tell me what's wrong," Cordelia demanded, she could feel his overlapping emotions.

"You were right... Elena found the picture of Katherine and took off... I found her car on the side of the road and she is currently road-tripping with Damon," Stefan told her truthfully while the blonde sat up against the headboard. The day before she had been placed in Damon's room however, Stefan had moved her into his room to keep an eye on her until the blood had left her system. "Well, Damon isn't gonna hurt her and you know that," Cordelia told him before wincing, Stefan was quick to rush over and help her sit comfortably. "I know. I just don't..." Stefan trailed off as he sat down next to Cordelia, he sighed and looked away from the blonde.

"Have some trust in your brother, he won't do anything and maybe this could be a good thing, she can ask Damon questions and he won't twist them," Cordelia assured Stefan, she knew that Damon wouldn't because of her but she couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't stir the pot. "I can do a location spell if you want me to," Cordelia offered. "No!" Stefan shouted causing Cordelia's eyes to widen in slight shock before he continued, "You need to focus on healing and resting after what happened." Cordelia rolled her eyes but accepted his words. "I'm hungry," Cordelia whined making Stefan laugh. Stefan grinned at her, "Want me to make you something?" Cordelia nodded.

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"You don't need to carry me downstairs, Stefan," Cordelia told Stefan as he carried her in his arms, he didn't want her to be in anymore pain. "I wanted to," Stefan told her before he sat her carefully on the stool at the counter. Cordelia leaned on her arms as Stefan go to work making some food for Cordelia, she watched him closely as he seemed relaxed despite the whole 'Elena finding out about being a Katherine lookalike' thing. "For someone whose girlfriend just learned she was a duplicate of someone her boyfriend once knew, you are very calm and relaxed. Especially with the knowledge that she's with your brother right now," Cordelia expressed to Stefan who sighed.

"I know," Stefan responded as he turned to look at the blonde, "But like you said, I have to trust him, right?" Cordelia smiled at Stefan, her eyes showing how proud she was that he was trying to give Damon the benefit of the doubt. She knew that was a lot for Stefan after everything that had happened between him and Damon but the improvements would only create a stronger bond between the two and fix their bond. Cordelia smiled as Stefan placed a plate in front of her, it was a omelette with bacon on the side. "That looks so good," Cordelia told him as he grabbed some utensils for her to use, "Thanks Stefan."

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While Stefan headed out for whatever reason, Cordelia showered and changed into some jeans and a random shirt. She was brushing her hair when her phone began ringing, she pulled it out and furrowed her brows seeing that Damon was calling her. "Hello Dames, what's going on?" Cordelia asked as she answered the phone, throwing her hair brush onto the bed before heading downstairs. "Hey Cori," Elena's voice responded making Cordelia sigh and lean against the wall. "What's going on, Elena?" Cordelia asked the girl. "Besides being stuck with Damon while he drinks in some bar with some old friend? It's okay..." Elena trailed off a little.

"Stefan isn't here with me. I think he went to Bonnie about tracking your location," Cordelia told Elena, she knew she could do it but Stefan was beyond worried about her using her magic and weakening herself after healing from the bullet wound that had almost killed her the day before. "Did you know? About Katherine?" Elena asked Cordelia who sighed and closed her eyes, she knew this was potentially coming. "Yes, I did. I also advised that he tell you before you found out. But come on, Elena. You two began dating in barely a week of knowing each other, secrets were bound to be hidden," Cordelia expressed to Elena with an eye roll, the two didn't bother trying the friendship step.

"You should have told me, Cordelia!" Elena snapped making Cordelia scoff before replying, "Told you!? Elena, that was Stefan's secret to reveal, not mine. Besides, you and me are not friends and we never have been!" Elena was irritated as she responded, "And we never will be. You are selfish and entitled, you always have been. You think you have everyone fooled with this sweet girl but I know the truth!" Cordelia frowned at Elena's words, "What truth? Nothing I do is fake nor have I ever been entitled. Why are you angry with me? I owe you nothing, Elena Gilbert."

Elena hung up on Cordelia unaware that Damon had heard the conversation, he didn't like the way Elena spoke to Cordelia nor did he like how small Cordelia's voice became in her final reply; she had been hurt by Elena's words. Cordelia leaned her head back against the wall with her eyes closed, she took slow breaths before shaking her head and heading upstairs to grab her things and head home. She slipped on her shoes and grabbed her purse, phone and keys before heading back down the stairs finding Stefan standing there watching her.

"Damon called me... said you seemed upset," Stefan told Cordelia who rolled her eyes and forced a smile to her face. "I'm fine. But I've gotta go," Cordelia replied to him before moving to walk by Stefan, he grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder causing her to shriek in surprise. "Stefan! Put me down!" Cordelia shouted as she hit his back a few times but Stefan simply chuckled. "Nope, my best friend needs me and I plan to help however I can," Stefan told her, the blonde sighed and gave up fighting back against him. "Where did you disappear too?" Cordelia asked after Stefan dropped her onto his bed, turning to the TV he had in his room.

"I went to see Sheila Bennett in search of Bonnie," Stefan answered her as he put a Marvel movie on. "Is she okay?" Cordelia asked noticing the look on Stefan's face, he sighed and looked towards the blonde. "Yeah. It's just something that Sheila told me..." Stefan muttered before turning away from Cordelia's eyes, her eyes always managed to capture his full attention and leave his mind a mess of gorgeous chaos. "What was it? Is everything okay?" Cordelia asked in concern. "It's okay, don't worry about it," Stefan assured her, she was hesitant to let it go but accepted he wasn't ready to talk about it; And it wasn't long till Cordelia had fallen asleep.

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After helping Bonnie out of the tomb where the ground had caved in under her, Stefan took her back to Sheila's home. "Well, now, look who's returned from battle," Sheila teased Bonnie who smiled, "Can I talk to your friend for a minute?" Bonnie nodded and turned to Stefan, "Thank you." Bonnie headed inside while Sheila stood in the doorway, her attention on Stefan who was intrigued by what she wanted to discuss with him. "I appreciate your help, Stefan," Sheila told him, he smiled at her words. "You're welcome, Sheila," Stefan replied to her. "I wasn't sure you remembered," Sheila told him with a smile on her face.

"October 1969," Stefan said with a nostalgic smile on his face. "I was barely a teenager," Sheila replied to him and he responded with a fond smile, "And you were leading what was probably the only anti-war sit-in within miles of Mystic Falls." Sheila hummed with a smile, she remembered those days perfectly. "You know, when you spoke, people were mesmerized. I know I was," Stefan expressed to her. "Until the cops showed up," Sheila told him, the two sharing a small chuckle. "You took a big risk coming to see me earlier. Letting me read you, realise who you were. It could have gone in a completely different way," Sheila warned him.

"Your family has a very long history of keeping my secret. I knew that I could trust you if you believed I was worthy of your trust," Stefan replied to her with certainty, he trusted the Bennett line more than most. "Bonnie knows, doesn't she?" Sheila asked him, he nodded and replied, "Yes." She huffed to herself, "Please understand, our loyalty can only extend so far. This town won't be easy on any of us if they figure it out. And I'll protect my own before anybody else." Stefan nodded in understanding, "I know that." Sheila smiled, "That includes Cordelia Forbes, Stefan." Stefan perked up at the mention of his best friend.

"I know you feel it, Stefan. The light around her along with the feeling she brings to you by simply existing in the same town," Sheila informed him. "She's my best friend and I care about her a lot," Stefan replied to her. "I'm not stupid, Stefan; And neither are you. You know the feelings you get around her are more than just some friendship and you can deny it chasing after ghosts but it will come back for you... don't lose it, Stefan," Sheila expressed as she looked him in the eyes, "Let it happen or you'll forever be lost to the blood." Stefan furrowed his brows but he knew she understood, he knew she was right. But he was scared, scared to let go of his past and scared of hurting Cordelia Forbes.

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Cordelia had woken up to her phone ringing, she reached over and answered without checking who it was. "Hello," Cordelia greeted with a yawn. "Hey, Del. I am on my way back now and require your assistance with something," Damon replied through the phone. "I thought you had replaced me with Elena," Cordelia teased making Damon scoff. "No matter what, Cordelia Forbes, you are my partner in crime so be ready for my return, we'll be taking a drive," Damon responded before hanging up making the blonde laugh and shake her head before getting out of the bed.

She made her way downstairs and noticed Stefan was sitting on the couch with a glass of bourbon in hand though he was clearly spaced out. "Stefan?" Cordelia's voice was soft so not to startle the younger Salvatore, he looked over at her and smiled. "I didn't want to wake you up," Stefan told her. "Damon called. He and Elena are on their way back and I'll be heading off to assist Damon with whatever trouble he plans to cause," Cordelia informed Stefan who didn't like the idea of that. "I don't think you should go with Damon," Stefan told her as he stood up, he placed the glass down and walked closer to Cordelia.

"Why? He's practically an older brother to me, Stef. He'll look out for me," Cordelia assured Stefan with a smile. "You got hurt, Cordelia!" Stefan snapped suddenly causing Cordelia to flinch as she hadn't been expecting it. "Stefan--" Cordelia was cut off by Stefan, "No! You almost died, Cori!! And if I lost you, I swear to God, I wouldn't know what to do!" Cordelia was frozen by Stefan's words, he had moved towards her and now she stood with her back to the wall and him trapping her there. "I... I won't lose you," Stefan whispered, his voice pleading with her as his mind goes crazy having her so close.

It felt so right to him. He never had such a blissful feeling of peace around anyone except for Cordelia, no bloodlust, no anger or sadness; just pure and happy peace within himself. "Stefan..." Cordelia whispered as she placed her hand on his cheek, he immediately leaned against it feeling his heart racing just from her light touch. "I know you don't want to lose me or let me get hurt, that means the world to me but you can't protect me forever," Cordelia told him, he went to respond but she shushed him, "I have magic, Stefan. And Damon will protect me."

Cordelia leaned up on her toes and kissed Stefan's forehead, the touch of her lips against his skin almost floored him in that very moment. "I'm bound to get hurt, Stefan, you can't prevent that. But I promise that I'll do my best to get through whatever happens to come back to you, okay?" Cordelia asked softly. "Okay," Stefan relented, he knew it didn't matter how much he argued, she would make her own decisions and she had the right to do so. "Good. Because you have other things to worry about," Cordelia told him as she moved away from him to grab her bag and jacket.

"Why are you making me feel this way? I get so protective over you and... I feel calm and you make the blood-lust go away..." Stefan suddenly spoke before Cordelia could leave, she stopped in place making her heart stop with it. She knew how she felt about Stefan, she had accepted that she had fallen for the younger Salvatore but she also accepted that he loved Elena; even if it is just because of his past with Katherine, he did love Elena. And no matter how much Cordelia disapproved of some of Elena's actions or decisions, she wouldn't ruin the girls happiness especially after everything she had suffered through.

"I don't know what you want me to say. I can't give you the answers you're looking for. Just... Elena is waiting for you. I'll keep an eye on Damon. She needs you," Cordelia replied to Stefan, she knew he would pick up on what her words really meant but it was true, Elena needed Stefan cause Cordelia knew Elena's connection to Katherine would lead into some risky and dangerous situations for her. "...Right..." Stefan hesitantly replied before watching Cordelia walk out the door, he wasn't sure what he wanted but his heart seemed to split in two as she walked out the door.

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Rosemary Speaks

There wasn't many scenes to put Cordelia in for the episode (bloodlines) when Damon takes Elena with him to see Bree about the tomb so... I worked with it where I could.

Thoughts on what Sheila told Stefan?

Thoughts on Stefan's fear of hurting Cordelia?

Thoughts, Suggestions or Questions?

See you in the next chapter!