We want more than this world's got to offer
We want more than the wars of our fathers
And everything inside screams for second life, yeah

Switchfoot Live for Something

It happened quicker than I believed it would; death always seemed torturous to me. It tore people away from their loved ones and ended lives abruptly. I thought it would come to be slowly, wrapping its grips around me and torture my life out of me. I was shocked when I felt it happening so fast; one minute Stefan's face was in front of me, his silently pleading with me to rethink my decision. I knew he wanted me to ask to be saved, but I could not allow Matt to die there. This was where I should have died with my parents, what felt like a hundred years ago. This was supposed to happen. I smiled slowly as I realized I would soon see everyone again—my parents, Jenna, Alaric, Jon. There was no pain when suddenly darkness surrounded me.

The darkness was welcomed—with it came an absence of everything that had been consuming me, the fear, the loss, all of it. It was just simply gone. The darkness slowly melted away and I was standing in the old cemetery, feet away from the headstone marking where my parents were buried. I took a shaky breath before slowly walking over to their grave, kneeling down in front of the headstone. A breeze started rustling the empty graveyard into life. I raised my head slightly, hearing a crunching sound behind me. Slowly rising to my feet, I turned. My parents stood feet from me, smiles on their faces while a tear rolled down my mom's cheek.

"Wh-what are you guys doing here?" I asked shakily, not believing what my eyes were showing to me.

"Do you remember what happened tonight honey?" My dad asked, moving towards me and enveloping me into a hug. He smelled as he always did of warm coffee and leather. I melted into his hug, wrapping my arms tightly around him.

"I-I remember calling Damon, and then Matt hit something and, and we went off the bridge" my breath hitched in my throat briefly as realization slowly swept over me. "Oh god. I'm d-dead aren't I?"

My dad stepped back slowly and my mom slightly nodded sadness in her eyes. "Yes and no honey. You were hurt very badly earlier today, and Meredith just wanted to help you. She can hardly stand losing patients she doesn't know, but when it was you she knew she had to do something. She had some of Damon's blood stored in her office and she gave it to you. You're in transition, and while your body is preparing to wake up, your spirit is here with us."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was in transition? I was, no no. It couldn't be true. I wouldn't believe it. "Where is this?" I asked looking around me. The scene was familiar; I spent a lot of my time here after the accident. But I knew it wasn't actually the graveyard. Something was off.

"You're on the other side, at least for a while." My dad said smiling down at me.

"We've been here waiting for you. We needed closure and we know you need it too. We don't blame you for what happened that night Elena. It was an awful accident, but that's what it was. An accident. We love you and Jeremy. We would never change our minds about coming and getting you or making the decision to have you saved. You've made us so proud. Now you'll always be there for Jeremy and you'll continue making us proud." My mom smiled at me, wrapping her arms around me.

"I have so many questions though. I've missed you guys so much. I just wish you could all come back and we could go back to how it used to be. Before I knew all of this stuff actually existed." I started crying, my parents' faces starting to blur in front of me.

"We'll always be here for you Elena. You just have to look for us. But it's time for you to wake up now honey. We love you" my parents were walking away from me now, everything becoming hazy.

The image in front of me disappeared, and was replaced by darkness once more. I distantly felt someone brushing the hair from my face, a hand holding my limp one in theirs, a kiss brushing my cheek. A soft voice speaking into my ear, pleading for me to wake up, a sadness hiding in its tone.

Suddenly I flew into a sitting position, taking a deep shaking breath as though I hadn't taken one for centuries. My eyes were struggling to adjust to the room around me; I recognized it as my own room but confusion was taking over my brain. I shouldn't be here, I should be dead. I was dead, but slowly realization hit me. I was dead, but also I alive.

I head an intake of breath next to me, and the bed settled as a new body crashed into it, arms wrapping themselves around me. I turned my head expecting to see Stefan, Caroline, even Bonnie but I realized the smell was all wrong, the arms too muscular.

Damon's face was inches from mine, an unmistakable smile gracing his lips, relief dancing in his eyes. I sank into his arms, mine finding their way around his waist. We spent a few blissful minutes in silence before the full weight of what happened sank in.

I pushed away suddenly, leaping from the bed. "What happened Damon? Where is Jeremy? And Caroline and Bonnie, Stefan?" I whispered the last name, my eyes falling onto the floor, unable to look into the pale eyes I could feel boring into me.

"We're right here" Stefan answered, his form appearing in the doorway. He smiled gratefully as I rushed across the room and into his arms.

I was so relieved to see him, I loved him and he loved me. I needed him more than ever being in this situation. He kissed my cheek before pulling back and smiling at me, his eyes boring into mine. He kept whispering about how this would work, he'd help me feed from animals, he'd never let me hurt anybody. Everything he said though faded as my eyes met the eyes of the only person I wanted to be with right now.

The pale blue eyes bore into mine, a quizzical look skirting across them. I realized Stefan was still speaking but I ignored his assurances and stepped out of his embrace.

I silently made my way back towards Damon, sitting down on the edge of the bed. I could feel everyone's eyes on me, questioning what I was doing. I took a shaky breath and dropped my eyes to the ground. "I-I think I want to be left alone for a while." I felt Damon stir beside me, making to get up and leave. My hand flew out and grabbed his arm pulling him back towards me. "Alone with Damon. I need to be alone with Damon. I want to talk to him" I whispered, releasing my hand from his arm.

I heard Stefan and the others slowly leave the room, the door clicking shut behind them. Damon sat down in front of me, placing his hand on my cheek. As soon as I raised my eyes and looked at him, I burst into tears and fell into his arms.