A.N.: I haven't written for VD in FOREVER, but I felt like last nights episode called for it. If you haven't seen it yet there will be spoilers in here. I'm really upset on what they did to my favorite character and I thought his goodbye scene was both perfect and really half assed, because he really is (or was before they butchered him) my favorite character. I wanted Elena to fight for him and try to figure out a way to fix him before he just gave up (for the greater good and all that shit) * sigh* I loved him in S1- all the way until they revealed him as the big bad and even when he killed Esther the fact that the very first thing that he noticed was that Elena had been hurt...God, I loved him. So this is my goodbye to him, RIP Alaric, may you find peace in the next life that evaded you in the last. Oh and I know that he came back as a supervamp or whatever the hell, but in my mind the real Alaric died last night. Sorry to rant, hope you like.

Disclaimer: It's not mine.

He's never really been afraid, not like he now. Not when every breath feels like the last.

He's grateful that Damon is there, even though he's an ass. He might be the best friend he's ever known and if that isn't one of the most fucked up things in his long list of fucked up things in his life he doesn't know what is.

But he's grateful.

Damon offers him a drink as he feels the tight control his has on his emotions crack and he starts to cry. The unfairness of everything hits him with a force so hard he's surprised he doesn't topple over on his side.

He's scared. Scared of what's next, of what waits for him on the other side. The liquor doesn't burn in a way that it did when he was human as him and Damon banter for what is the last time.

He wants to ask him to look out for Jeremy and Elena, but why waste his breath, Damon isn't ever going to let anything happen to Elena and therefore Jeremy by extension. They don't deserve this. Hell, he's pretty sure he doesn't either.

He can feel the darkness closing in as his eyes drift shut and he wishes he had the strength to fight it, because this isn't comforting or peaceful, it's a black shroud being pulled over his life and he can't stand that the last thing he is going to see before he dies is Damon's smug mug.

Because, sure, he likes the guy, but it just seems like there should be something more.

His breath shudders out of him as the sedative takes over, he can feel Damon watching him as his head lulls off to the side.

He longs to say goodbye, to tell them he's changed his mind, that he doesn't want to die.

He feels a palm on top his head, gentle and grounding as a rough voice whispers, "Sweet dreams Ric," accompanied by the soft pitter patter of what sounds suspiciously like tears falling.

Damon? He wants to ask but can't as feet shuffle away from him and silence falls heavy in the tomb.

It's fitting he guesses, fitting that silence and blackness is all that should await him at the end of his life.

He's stunned that the next time he opens his eyes he is almost blinded by the beauty and light that radiates from the creature in front of him.

"Oh my god." he mutters as she laughs.

"Not quite."

Her arms come around him in a welcoming embrace that he is too shocked to return.

"How?" He gasps.

"I've been waiting for you." she pulls him closer.

"Jenna?" He inquires as more tears fall down his face.

She smiles widely at him. "You can rest now Ric. You've earned it. You can rest."

His arms crush her to him as he kisses the top of her head, no longer afraid, but at peace.

"Thank you." he whispers, overcome by the completion he feels in the arms of the woman he loves.

And with Damon's last gift to him on his mind Alaric Saltzman takes his last breath and dies.