Title: An Act of Compulsion
Summary: Following a nearly fatal occurrence, Damon removes Elena's memory of his love for her. Their lives as they know it changes after the compulsion but Damon can't seem to forget the past. What happens when Elena realizes she doesn't want to either? Based off of Lianne's photoset [delenawhore(dot)tumblr(dot)com/post/18616370988] and a youtube video [jaybunzy0(dot)tumblr(dot)com/post/18739835071/fatallyxfragile-damon-elena-the-vow-style-by]
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is being made from this work.
Life's all about moments and how they change our lives forever.
It's these moments that become our history.
Like our own greatest hits of memories,
That we play and replay in our minds over and over again.
What if one day you could no longer remember any of them?
"Stefan! Stop the car! Stop the car, Stefan!"
Elena's hands pushed out in front of her, awaiting the impact that was sure to come. She hated driving fast, having no control, and being mere inches from a vampire who was currently unstable. She and Matt had been looking for Caroline when Stefan had pushed Matt against the wall and then covered her mouth and forced her into his car. Elena knew what this had all been about. It was only the night before that he had caught her kissing Damon. That was why he was now speeding down the road as the familiar roadway that led to Wickery Bridge began to be revealed.
Her phone chimed in her pocket and her hands quickly went to answer when she saw Damon's name lighting up the screen. But, Stefan was too fast for her. He held the phone up to his ear and spoke in an eerily calm voice. "Hello, Damon. She's a little busy right now."
"Help! Damon he's gone crazy!" The moment the words left her mouth, Stefan smacked her…. Hard.
"I'm making my next move. You want to steal my girl well now you're going to get the chance to fight with me over her forever." He switched the phone to speakerphone and placed it on the console. Stefan then bit into his wrist and before Elena could react his metallic tasting blood was trickling down her throat. She tried not swallow, to push his hand off her, but it was too late. Elena began choking as she felt the blood dribble down the sides of her mouth.
Damon's frantic voice filled the car. "Leave her out of this, Stefan!"
"How could I? It all comes down to the love of a woman. Isn't that right, Damon?"
"What are you doing?" Elena questioned, her voice broken.
Stefan pushed harder on the pedal and the bridge came into view. Elena's heart clenched as memories of being plunged into the water passed in her mind. Her parent's screams as they veered off the bridge. It was all she heard now. That and Damon's furious screams.
"You know this isn't what she wants, Stefan! She doesn't want to be a vampire!"
Stefan chuckled. "Why are you the only who gets to take her choices away from her? I want a little slice of the fun."
The bridge came closer and closer. Elena began screaming. "Stefan! Slow down! Stefan! Stefan! Stop it!"
The car followed the turn in the road and the bridge was mere inches away.
"Stefan! Stop it!" Elena continued to scream as Stefan, turned the wheel and the car veered off the bridge and the front of his car plunged into the water. Quickly, Elena rolled down the window, causing more and more water to enter the classic car. As fast as she could, she undid her seatbelt only to have Stefan hold her down with a firm hand. The water was filling up the car and she couldn't help but feel frozen at sight. It was happening again and this time there would be no one to save her.
She heard a crash of glass and then Stefan's hold lessened. Elena turned towards him to see him being pulled from the car. This was her moment. She slid out the window and swam towards the bank. Her clothes were drenched and she was having a hard time regaining control of her breathing as adrenaline pumped through her system. In the distance, she could see Stefan and Damon fighting until finally it stopped. Stefan ran off in into the distance and then Damon flashed towards her, his hands cradling her against him as she sobbed. Her eyes were transfixed passed him, looking out. Elena had all the signs of person being in shock and he was careful with his movements, not wanting to send her into a panic attack. His thumb slowly brushed against her cheek and her eyes turned towards him, brown meeting blue. Then it was all he could do not to fall back into the water as she jumped into his arms and latched her body onto his.
"How could he?" she cried.
Damon rubbed a soothing hand on her back. "He's lost it, Elena."
Tears streamed down her face. "He knew! He knew what happened here. He was the one that saved me."
"You're safe now," Damon breathed. "Let's get you home and into some warm clothes."
Damon eased her off him then he lifted her legs to carry her bridal-style. Then with her tucked closely in his arms, he flashed through the woods and towards the direction of her house. They slipped through the glass doors in the backyard and he walked her up the stairs to her bedroom, two steps at a time. He brought her immediately to her bathroom and turned on the hot water.
She was shaking now and Damon knew there was no way she could do this herself. "May I?" he asked, as he gestured to her soaked clothing. Elena nodded, a tear sliding down her cheek. Carefully, Damon removed her clothing, making sure to keep his eyes dutifully trained on her face. He had to be the perfect gentleman, especially now, but he couldn't help his eyes drifting down to her perfect body.
Once she was undressed, he helped her into the shower and first washed her hair and then her body. The entire time, Elena remained completely immobile; only moving when he gestured for her to turn or lift a limb. The sight of her was breaking his heart.
And he knew his love for her was what had been the cause. Maybe not directly, (He wasn't the one who drove her off Wickery Bridge) but his love for her was what sparked Stefan's actions.
When she was cleaned off, he wrapped her in towel and sat her down on the edge of the tub. "I'm just going to grab you some pajamas. I'll be right over there."
He saw the look of fright on her face and he placed a soothing kiss on her forehead. She relaxed some, but he felt her eyes trained on him as he went into her dresser to grab a pair of blue and white checkered boxer shorts and a blue tank top. He helped her dress and then carried her over to the bed and tucked her underneath the comforter.
"You should be okay," he promised. "We'll just have to watch you for the next few hours."
Elena nodded and tucked her hand beneath her pillow. Seeing her eyes drift close, he turned off the light on her night stand, illuminating the room in darkness.
Damon tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'll be right by the window. Get some sleep."
As he went to stand, Elena's hand reached out and grabbed his wrist. Her face was so vulnerable as she peered up at him with glassy doe eyes. "Stay with me?"
He nodded and walked over to the other side of the bed, lying atop the comforter. His hands rested beneath his head as he studied the ceiling, letting his decisions fill him up. He knew what he had to do in the morning. It was just a matter of gaining the strength to do it.
The bed shifted as Elena turned towards him, moving herself into his nook and placing a gentle hand on her chest. She drifted peacefully to sleep within moments, her hand clutching on to his shirt. Soon enough, Damon joined her. They were nestled softly in the comfort of each other's embrace and he could've sworn he caught the hint of a smile on her face before his eyes drifted close.
It still did nothing to change his mind.
Sunlight beamed in from the windows, casting Elena in a glow. She looked so peaceful in sleep and Damon was comforted by the fact that his presence had calmed her. No nightmares had plagued her dreams. When Elena woke, she peered up at him a sad smile crossing her face.
"So, last night really happened, didn't it?"
Damon nodded. "Are you going to be okay?"
"I'll survive." Elena sat up and leaned against her headboard. Damon mimicked her. She shrugged. "Somehow I always do."
She stood up and went to the bathroom, washing her face. Damon couldn't help but look on, cherishing these last few memories with her. They had reached a point in their relationship where she felt so comfortable around him, where she trusted him. Now he had to break that trust.
When she reentered her bedroom, Damon was standing before her. She jolted when she nearly collided with him. "Oh! Sorry."
Damon merely stepped closer, entering her personal space. "I have to tell you something."
"What is it, Damon?"
He looked down for a moment, steeling himself, before looking back into her chocolate orbs. "I love you, Elena. And it's because I love you that I can't be selfish with you. Why I can't let you get caught up in a longstanding feud between brothers."
Elena reached out and touched the place over his heart. It was nearly metaphorical for Damon. It was the one spot she would always hold, that belonged only to her. Not noticing his softened face, she spoke. "But Damon, it's not your decision to make."
"I have to do this. It's all my fault."
She was shaking her head now. "No, no. If anything you're the reason I've survived this long. I don't know what I would do without you."
He stared deep into her eyes, letting his compulsion begin. Elena stood there frozen, her lips parted in breath. He hated having to do this but it was the only way he knew he could protect her. This would give her the human life she really wanted.
"I don't deserve you." Damon reached forward brushing his lips against hers. His heart soared at her mouth opening up to him. He savored the taste of temptation before backing away. "You have to forget everything, Elena. All the moments that revealed my love for you."
A single tear drop slid down his cheek as his compulsion took hold. When she closed her eyes to blink he disappeared before her eyes opened again. His heart shattered with each step away from her but it was the only way to protect her from his brother. It had to be.