Damon stood outside Elena's room with tears running down his face.

Without Elena, he had nothing.

Even Stefan, his own brother, would find some way to blame this on him.

After that, he'd have no one.

Even Elena's friends would hate him...not that they don't already do...

Elena, please drink the blood... Please.

Stefan stepped out of the room and looked at his brother.

Damon looked up at the sad and cold green eyes of his brother. "Well..?" he asked.

Stefan shook his head. "She doesn't- she doesn't want to live. She won't drink the blood."

Damon sighed and tried not to run in there and force her to drink.

"Alright," he whispered, looking down. "What does she want?" he asked.

Stefan shrugged. "I don't know..."

Damon looked up at his brother; he knew there was more, but he just wasn't saying it. "And?"

Stefan looked away. "She- she wants to speak to you," he paused and looked back, straight into his brother's eyes with pure jealousy and hatred all over his face. "Alone." he added.

Damon nodded and slowly walked towards the door and inside Elena's room, making sure to close the door behind him.

Stefan sighed and went downstairs to clear his head.

The sight infront of Damon wasn't the loveliest, but it was still Elena.

She was pale, obviously in pain and very close to dying, but she still wore a faint smile on her face and her eyes, following Damon's every move, were still full of light, just a little dull because she wasn't as strong as she could be.

If only you'd drink the blood... he thought.

Elena's smile grew larger as he sat down at the foot of her bed and smirked at her.

"What did you want beautiful?" he asked her.

She struggled to sit up a little more. "I just wanted to tell you that I remember everything."

Damon looked at her.

"I remember the day we met. The actual day we met...the day my parents died...I met both you and your brother. But, Damon, I met you first..."

Damon's smirk faded and he just stared at her seriously without saying a single word.

"I have to admit, I actually... I actually fell for you that day. I was so upset over hurting Matt, but then I saw you and everything that I felt went away. It was just you and me." Elena shook her head and looked away from his eyes. "But you compelled me to forget. And soon, I fell in love with Stefan... It could've been you if you didn't...we'd be together right now and my decision would probably be reversed."

"And what decision is that?" Damon asked.

Elena sighed. "As much as I'll miss you and Stefan. Caroline, Bonnie, Jeremy, and Matt..." she was interrupted by a tear that fell from her eye. "I don't want to become a vampire. I just can't."

Damon looked at her, his eyes starting to become glossy. "But, Elena... I-"

"I want you to keep a promise for me," she whispered. "Okay Damon?"

He looked deep into her eyes, his own about to overflow any second, and nodded.

"Anything..." he whispered.

She looked at him.

He gave her that special look and she knew he'd do anything she'd ask, especially in this situation. "You need to promise me that you won't tell Caroline and Bonnie. They can't know I didn't die before... they can't know that I gave up my only way to live."

Damon grabbed her hand and held it, squeezing it tight. "I promise, Elena..." he whispered.

She nodded. "And one more thing... Stefan refused to do it; maybe you might." she looked up into his eyes, her eyes begged for him to do this small task.

He stood up, still keeping his hand in hers. "What is it?" he asked.

"I'm dying Damon... Can you please save me?" she whispered.

Her eyes began to flutter and then they closed.

He looked down at her. "Elena..?"

She breathed and tightened her grip on his hand a little bit. "Please Damon..." her voice plead, just a faint whisper.

Damon looked over at the stake and back at Elena.

"Elena... I-" he whispered.

He looked back over at the stake again.

Elena, I can't do this... I can't kill the woman I love.

"Please..." Elena cried.

Her hand moved out of his.

He looked over helplessly at the stake.

"Elena..." he whispered.

She frowned. "Please...Damon... For... me..?" she plead weakly.

He closed his eyes and breathed, nodding to himself.

She needs to be saved. She's in so much pain... Stefan didn't even do this for her.

He slowly walked over towards the stake on the other side of the room.

With each step, he knew he was getting closer and closer to never seeing the love of his life ever again.

Never again would he be able to see her face.

Never again would he see the things she did that he loved ever so dearly.

She groaned in pain and he knew he was doing the right thing.

Just inches from the wooden stake, he stopped and looked back.

Elena lay there, even more pale than she was the moment he'd walked in.

"Elena... are you sure about this?" he asked.

Elena's eyes opened and she locked her eyes on him and nodded. "Please Damon..." she whispered.

He nodded; he could tell by the way her voice shook that she didn't have much time anyway, but it would be better if she died the way she wanted and not the painful death of a failed vampire transition.

He took one last step and grabbed the stake.

His fingers wrapped around the weapon in an awkward motion as his hands trembled and he walked back over to Elena in her bed.

One last step and he could see the pain in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his eyes watering once again.

Elena smiled up at him and shook her head, without saying a word, closing her eyes.

Damon lifted the stake up over her chest positioning it the right way towards her heart and glanced down at Elena's body one last time.

She was only eighteen, more adventure, love, and life ahead of her, but it was all about to end in a matter of seconds.

"I love you Elena," he cried.

She faintly smiled, her eyes still closed, ready to be set free.

Looking away he struck and tears streamed down his face. "I love you Elena." he whispered.

Elena gasped as her vampire body reacted to the stake.

She looked up at Damon and smiled. "Thank...you...Damon..." she whispered.

Her body shriveled up and she was dead.

Damon looked at Elena's eyes and sighed, putting his hand over them and shutting them for her. "Rest in peace Elena..." he whispered.