#elena's bday ♡

[elenaesmoved]

Happy Birthday, Lena. Let me know if you want to do something tonight, unless you're busy. I would love to just hang at the grill or somethinn'. Happy Birthday old lady, hahah. / from tyler he is so dumb omg lol

ㅤㅤshe can't help but chuckle, eyes rolling affectionately. she quickly types up a response; ‹ i actually am rather busy tonight, but i suppose i could find some time in my schedule to hang out with you. pick me up around 7? ›

[snowqueen]

wish her a happy birthday now.

[elenaes]

caroline arrives w a cake for elenas bday ♡

ㅤㅤshe opens the door with a grin, spirits already lifting at the sight of her best friend. ❛ care! come on in, and change your phone to silent, ❜ she orders, though her tone remains lighthearted. ❛ we're ignoring all our problems today. ❜ she pauses when she realizes she can't really plan for that anymore, given how crazy their lives have gotten. still, she does her best to remain upbeat. ❛ well, that's what i'm hoping for, anyway. but as long as we have cake, i figure the day can't go too awry. ❜

[elenaesmoved]

the flowers were carefully arranged on the table the night prior, note propped against the vase. hydrangeas for care, ivy for love, campanula for gratitude. a happy bouquet for a happy birthday ! love, andromeda.

ㅤㅤthe sight of the bouquet is a surprise, but a very welcome one. the planes of her face light up, and she hurries over to it, picking up the note. her smile warms the apples of her cheeks, and she takes hold of the vase, lifting the blooms to her nose. ❛❛ thank you, dromeda. ❜❜

[elenaesmoved]

Stefan didn't wrap his gift, instead preferring to hand it directly to her. A real black leather journal with her initials embossed on the front. Scrawled in Stefan's handwriting on the inside cover was a quote from Maya Angolu,

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."

Happy Birthday, Stefan

ㅤㅤshe accepted the journal, lips parted and turned up slightly at the corners. ❛❛ it's beautiful, ❜❜ she murmured, dark gaze drinking it in as she opened it, slender fingers running loving over his handwriting. her smile grew, feeling almost like a giddy high schooler admiring her crush's signature in her yearbook. ❛❛ thank you stefan, i love it so much. and i'll write in it everyday, ❜❜ she promised, hugging the journal to her chest with one hand and reaching out to him with the other, gripping onto his shirt and pulling him down into a tender kiss.

[elenaesmoved]

stefan walks through the gilbert house with a bouquet in his hand, along with a pink heart shaped balloon and a card in his other hand. there’s definitely a bigger present but that’s a surprise so he’s being simple this morning. he walks up the steps & leans against her doorframe, actual genuine smile on his face. his head tilts to the side, so it’s against the frame as well, smile never faltering. “ happiest of birthdays to you, ms. gilbert. there’s more to come, after caroline and bonnie have the day with you. ”

ㅤㅤthe sight of him, along with his smile, causes a bright smile to light her own face in response. ❛❛ why, thank you, mr. salvatore, ❜❜ she says playfully, skipping over to him and wrapping her arms around his waist. ❛❛ aw, you got me flowers! and the balloon is so cute. ❜❜ she eyes the card, burning with curiosity at what's written inside. she rests her chin on his chest, gazing up at him with a soft expression. ❛❛ uh-oh, do care and bonnie have something planned that i should be worried about? ❜❜ faux concern paints her expression before her joy breaks through again. ❛❛ are just the two of us going to do something, too? ❜❜

[elenaesmoved]

When Elena awoke this morning, she would find on her bedside table a single red rose laid across a folded letter. Once she picked up the paper she'd find beneath it a pencil sketch of her face, features arranged in a coy smile, titled Beauty in bold letters near the bottom. For that is how he saw her.

Happy Birthday Elena, I haven't celebrated the turning of the earth in quite some time, but I've found myself very fond of the little life we have built here in New Orleans together. I know I was not your first choice, but I intend to make the most of the time you've chosen to sped with me. Boundaries are not my strong suit, as you have so keenly made me aware, but if you'd like to spend the day with me I've a few ideas on how to make the celebration memorable. You can find breakfast in the kitchen and me in the drawing room. Affectionately, The Beast

ㅤㅤthe papers are shaking slightly by the time she finishes reading the letter, her hands dangerously close to crinkling the drawing. she catches herself with a gasp before she can damage it, gently setting it down and smoothing out any wrinkles. she tries to pretend like she isn't blushing, and that her heart isn't pounding — she fails to convince even herself, her hands trembling a bit with excitement as she carefully tucks the letter and drawing into her journal. she keeps the rose however, changing into something she hopes is cute and pulling the brush through her hair until it's smoothed from its bedhead state into something presentable. then she's off, flowery sandals rather loud as she runs through the compound. she forgoes the kitchen, instead coming to a hurtling halt outside the drawing room, taking a moment to collect herself by fixing her dress and hair, both mussed from her sprint. she opens the door and attempts nonchalance when she spots him, twirling the rose between her fingers. but unable to hide her smile or the rosiness in her cheeks, she at least keeps her voice even as she asks, ❛❛ what celebration ideas do you have, beast? ❜❜

[elenaesmoved]

"So, I have no idea what you'd want and I assumed compelling someone to give me a horse was a bad idea. So, after a lot of internal debate, I've come up with a gift." She presents the small satin bag to her doppelganger.

Inside Elena will find an antique locket, silver and in great condition.

"I debated putting a picture of me in there for fun, and I could not physically bring myself to put one of Stefan inside, but I did manage to track down a family photo and copy that. Don't worry I didn't cut up the original. Happy birthday Elena."

ㅤㅤ❛❛ you assumed correctly, ❜❜ she teases, though it's clear she's touched by even the idea of katherine getting her something. it isn't surprising that her predecessor knows her birthday, given she seems to know most everything. but it is rather surprising that she would get anything for elena's birthday - she likes to see that as a sign their adversarial relationship is well on its way to becoming a thing of the past.

ㅤㅤshe accepts the bag with a smile, eagerly opening it. her eyes widen at the sight, and she carefully pulls the jewelry from its packaging. she studies the locket as the other speaks, opening it to see the photo as her expression softens. ❛❛ i love it, katherine. i'd hug you, but i don't know how you'd feel about that, so instead i'll just say: thank you. ❜❜

[elenaesmoved]

"I drew you like, a horse or something, if you wanna put it on your wall. Or whatever."

ㅤㅤ❛❛ i will hang it on my wall, or whatever, thank you very much. but i think you're still missing something — three words you should be saying to your favorite big sister on her birthday. ❜❜