I haven't written anything or updated anything in awhile. It's been a rough year for me and I had been going through some rough stuff. I hope that you all will enjoy what I have written so far. So please review and let me know if you want to see anything different happen with any characters or what you think. I'd appreciate it ;)

Chapter 1: Denial

The sound of the rain beating off of the windows in the empty room was almost deafening to her. In her mind she kept reliving the same scene over and over. She kept seeing when Stefan came up to her after they got out of Alaric's burning car and asked her why she saved him.

"Why did you save me when you had the chance to escape and let me burn?" He had asked.

"Because I still have hope. This isn't you. I know the real you better than anyone else. I know we can get through this," she had told him.

He gave her a smirk. It was a cold, calculative smirk. "You see, that's what makes you pathetic," he sneered.

"No, that's what makes me strong," she spat as she forcefully drove a stake in his stomach and left.

She still felt the sting of his words. Was she really pathetic for having hope or was Damon right when he said Stefan is gone and he's not coming back? Maybe it was also pathetic for thinking Stefan could go back to how he was before Klaus compelled him. Could things really go back to how they were after all he had done and all the hateful things he said? Was this really who he was? It was like the Stefan she knew had left his body and someone else took over. A walk-in. Surely, Stefan couldn't really be this cruel, hateful kind of person, could he? She honestly didn't know what to think anymore. Now when she looked in his eyes the warmth that was once there is gone; devoid of life; soulless. An empty shell. Who is this person anyway, because it's definitely not the Stefan she knew.

Damon came into the study at that point and noticed Elena sitting on the couch frozen. She had a pained expression on her face.

"Care for a shot? Might help," he quipped.

Nothing. No response. Not even an agitated sigh. He went over to the bottles of liquor and took two tumblers and filled them with Bourbon. Then he walked over in front of her with the glassed and held one near her face.

"Earth to Elena! Care for a shot of liquid comfort?" he asked as he swirled her glass around.

She stirred then. "Wha…huh? Oh! I'm sorry, Damon. I didn't see you come in. Sure, thanks, I'll take a shot," she said as she took the glass from him.

"You alright?" He asked, concerned.

"Honestly, I've been better," she said and drained her glass.

"Ah!" He said as he sat down across from her. "Have anything to do with my baby bro?"

She gave a curt nod. "The very one."

"What has he done now or dare I ask?" Damon asked, finishing his drink.

"Tell me something. Before Klaus compelled him to turn off his emotions, was he this cruel?"

Damon gave her a speculative look and got up and headed for the bourbon. His look said, 'Should I even broach this territory with my brother's girlfriend?' He sighed. "Yes and no."

She raised a brow at that. "You care to elaborate?"

"Elena, don't you think you've been through enough? Wouldn't it be better to remember the Stefan you knew then than the Stefan you know now?"

"I think I should get to decide when I've been through enough or not, Damon. I want to know."

"Suit yourself. But don't say I didn't give you fair warning."

She thrust her empty glass at him prompting him to refill it. "I've got time. Tell me."

He took her glass, refilling it, handed it back to her and came around to sit across from her again. The bourbon bottle next to him now. He figured she might need it after what he tells her.

"I know you learned that Stefan was a ripper when he was turned. You also know that when you become a vampire, aspects of your personality become heightened. Stefan was always impulsive, careless and could never control himself. His insatiable personality was magnified. Always craving more and more. Nothing was ever enough for him.

Out of the two of us, he's the most like our father. Our father was a hard, cruel man. He hated vampires and he also had a deep abiding hatred of me. Stefan didn't share that sentiment though, surprisingly enough. Even so, the stain of our father still marked his soul.

Stefan delighted in wreaking havoc wherever he went. He was too used to his poor behavior being overlooked by our father and someone cleaning up his mistakes. He was never held accountable for anything he did wrong. Unlike me. Anyway, it was Stefan's yearning for companionship and selfishness that he forced me to complete my transformation. I hated him for it at first, but now I am happy I'm here," he said. He wanted to add, 'With you,' but thought against it. Pouring them both another glass he continued.

"Killing people was a big game to him. One he delighted in. He lived for toying with his victims. First he'd woo them, then lavish attention on them, and then turn around and utterly destroy them. Afterwards he'd add their name to his sick, twisted, serial killer wall. The Stefan you knew was not the person he really is. The Stefan you knew was the happy little, bunny-eating Lexi rehab Stefan. The Stefan he was would've never stayed with you or anyone as long as he did. He would've grown bored and ended it."

"Well, that's pretty much what's he's trying to tell me now; that we're done. He's still pushing me away," she said.

"When I say ended it, Elena, I meant he'd have killed you and moved on."

Elena felt herself grow cold inside; like an icy blast of air entered her soul and its icy grip latched onto her heart constricting it. Her eyes widened and she gaped at Damon. Stefan would've killed her? She didn't want to believe it; she stubbornly refused to. Her first reaction was to utter a denial to Damon but deep down she feared he was right.