Elena pulled away from Stefan as she pushed her hair behind her ears. Her pulse still raced, and she glanced away from his dark green eyes before they pulled her back to him. "I need to go. Jenna's already been acting a little strange around me. If I'm much later." She nodded at the clock.

"I wish you could stay." Stefan leaned his forehead against hers as he stroked her cheek.

Her heart skipped a beat. She and Stefan hadn't spent a night together since the events of the Miss Mystic Falls pagent. They hadn't discussed it, but she knew he was afraid he wouldn't be able to control himself around her.

Until tonight.

"I can't. Jenna knows I'm not getting along with Bonnie right now. She wouldn't believe that I suddenly decided to sleep over." Elena stood up and smoothed her shirt down. She hadn't noticed when Stefan's hands slid under her her shirt. Well, maybe she did, but she didn't mind.

Stefan linked his fingers with hers as he walked through the house to the front door. "You want me to drive you?"

In the bright light from the hallway, Elena could still plainly see the aftereffects from earlier in the day. "No, you need to go hunt." She knew he'd hurried so he could get back to Sheriff Forbes and Caroline earlier - no matter what he said.

"I'll be fine. I don't want you alone." He pushed the door open and waited for her to walk through first.

"Stefan." Her voice rose in warning. He knew she didn't like to be babysat.

"She won't be alone." Damon's voice came out of the shadows.

Elena walked to the car and opened her door, ignoring Damon's comment.

Damon sped to the car door and pushed it closed. He leaned against the door, blocking her from getting into the driver's seat. "I'm going with you."

Taking a deep breath, she reached up and grabbed his arm and attempted to push him away. "Damon, really? Just let me in the car." When he refused to budge, she spun around and looked at Stefan for help.

Stefan met his brother's eyes. Sighing, he shook his head. "He's right. Elena, let him ride with you."

"Fine, but I'm driving." She waited for Damon to step away.

"Of course." Damon gave his most courteous expression as he held the car door open for Elena. Closing the door, he nodded to Stefan as he rounded behind the car and got in the passenger's seat.

Elena rolled the driver's window down as Stefan leaned into the car. "I love you." She lightly kissed his lips before he pulled away.


Elena drove in silence as she pulled out onto the winding country road. She couldn't believe Stefan agreed she needed Damon to ride with her. She was more than capable of driving home by herself.

"Thank you." Damon broke the silence.

Looking at him skeptically, Elena asked, "For what?"

"I know you're not sure about Stefan drinking human blood, but what you did tonight." He nodded to her hand. "He wouldn't have done it without you. That took a lot of guts."

Elena curled her hand into a ball. Blood still leaked from the cut, and she nervously brushed it against her jeans.

"He has to be able to manage human blood - especially now that Katherine's around. He still won't be strong enough to fight her, but he'll have a better chance."

"Will it be different this time?" Elena chewed her lip. Memories of the night she stabbed Stefan with the vervain dart flooded over her. She wasn't sure if she could do it again.

Damon shrugged his shoulders. "He won't be alone. Last time he was trying to hide. This time, he has me ... and you." Elena slowed the car as she turned onto her street. As she pulled into the driveway, Damon made no move to get out. "Elena," his voice took on a husky tone, "I almost watched my brother die today. The wooden bullets and the vervain - they were stronger than he was. I couldn't do anything to stop Liz."

Elena stared straight ahead. Someone flicked on the porch light.

"Elena, look at me." Damon reached out as if to stroke her cheek but thought better of it. He touched her arm instead. "I can't make it up to you, but I understand how you felt that night. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have attacked Jeremy."

The front door opened, and Jenna stepped out onto the porch. Elena blinked back at Damon. "Thank you."

"Elena! Are you okay?" Jenna descended the stairs. She could tell Elena wasn't talking to Stefan in the car.

"Um, how are you getting home?" She held out her car keys.

Damon shook his head. "Its a nice night. I can walk. You'd better get inside before she comes out to get you."


Elena collapsed into bed, exhausted. Seeing Stefan lying on the floor, apparently lifeless, had almost been more than she could manage. If Caroline hadn't been there... Elena couldn't think about that now.

She pulled her teddy bear closer to her chest as she pulled the blanket up more tightly around her. Her phone buzzed. She smiled when she looked at the screen. "You don't need to worry about me."

"I can't help it." Stefan sounded stronger than when she'd left the house.

"Well, I'm all tucked in - safe and sound. Did Damon make it home?"

"Yeah, a few minutes ago."

"That's good. You're feeling alright?"

Stefan cleared his throat. "I've already been out for a snack. Don't worry about me. Good night."

"Night Stefan. I love you." She smiled to herself as she ended the call. She couldn't stay awake any longer. A gentle breeze blew over the bed and ruffled her hair.

Damon stepped out of the shower. A shadow sped down the hallway. He was instantly on alert. Something wasn't right. He pulled on his pants and grabbed a shirt before walking into the hall. "Stefan?" His brother's door was closed. He knocked twice before opening it. Empty.

"Need something?" Stefan rounded the corner - a book in his hand.

"Did Elena come back?"

"No. Why?" But he didn't have to ask. His finely tuned senses knew what was wrong. He could smell Elena's perfume, and it was coming from his room. "Elena?" He pushed his door open and looked around.

"Stefan!" Damon's voice was sharp. He stood next to Stefan's bed and looked down.

Elena's teddy bear was tucked into the sheets.