Damon tried to ignore the weight pressing down upon him. He raised his glass in salute, knowing that his friend would see, knowing that Ric would smile. He took a swig and turned away, not wanting to look too long at the place where Ric had just stood. His gaze fell on the fireplace and he shook his head in wonder and disbelief. He could still hear Elena's voice. He could still hear those words. He could feel her hands in his hair and her lips on his lips.
I love you, Damon.
He shivered. He wanted to laugh. He wanted to cry.
I love you, Damon.
Could it be some trick? The last time he had allowed himself to believe she might choose him, he had been wrenched out of his paradise and he had landed hard. But this time, Elena was herself. This time, Stefan had bowed out. Damon felt a twinge of guilt at that thought. But nothing could truly halt his happiness, not Ric fading away or Stefan leaving. He stood in front of the fire, in the same spot that they had stood entwined and he smiled.
She appeared, moving like a whisper. He felt her before he heard her. He always knew when she was near. He wondered if she felt it too, the heightened sense of anticipation whenever they were near. Whether they were happy or angry, whether they hated each other or loved each other, that anticipation was always there. He looked towards her, breathless before their eyes had even met.
He knew instantly that something was wrong. His first thought was that it had all been a trick and that she had come to dash his new dreams. That thought stabbed his chest and made him cold. But he knew her expression. Her eyes were wide orbs as they pleaded with him. It was a look of absolute trust in his ability to help her. He placed his glass down.
'What's wrong?'
Elena swallowed, closing the distance between them. She placed her hand on his arm. She looked up into his eyes. 'I gave Katherine the cure.'
'You what?'
'She was trying to kill me. She would have killed me if I…'
Panic set in, even though she was stood before him. Even though she was okay. He could not stop the bolt of fear that tore through him at the thought that she might have been gone, that the light of her life might have been put out. He placed his hands on her face and her eyes fluttered closed.
'You okay?'
She smiled, but when she opened her eyes again there were tears in them. 'Yes, but…the veil is closed, isn't it?'
Don't screw it up.
Damon nodded.
Elena squeezed her eyes shut. She sank into him, pressing her face against his chest. 'I didn't find Jeremy,' she choked, 'I didn't get to say goodbye.'
For once, Damon did not know what to say. Elena's grief when she had lost Jeremy the first time was burned into his memory and his heart ached for her as she cried into his shirt. But her grief was different this time. She clung to him, she needed Damon, but she was not broken. Having Jeremy beside her again for one day had helped heal her. Damon wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. She would be okay this time.
'Elena?'
Damon and Elena both stiffened. Elena pulled back slowly, looking at Damon first before daring to look towards the doorway. Damon's eyes narrowed. Jeremy was standing before them, his smile wide and his form suspiciously corporeal. But that was not possible. Elena sucked in a sharp breath.
'Jeremy?'
He nodded. His smile widened. He stepped further into the room. Damon stared at him. The hope building in his own chest was magnified on Elena's face. Elena stared at her brother. She could do nothing else.
'How is this possible?' Damon asked, knowing that she could not speak.
There were tears in Jeremy's eyes. 'Bonnie…it was Bonnie.' His face crumpled. He looked like a little boy and that was all Elena needed. She flung herself at him, a howl of pure joy echoing around her. Damon watched the two of them, his own eyes glistening. He felt like he was floating. He felt like he must have died, for life could not be this kind, not this perfect.
Then Jeremy looked at him over his sister's shoulder. 'So, are you two a thing now?'
Elena pulled back. Her face was coated with tears. Her knuckles were white for she was holding onto her brother with all of her strength. But she smiled at Damon and her eyes were bright with love and with joy. Damon thought that she had never looked so beautiful.
She held out her hand to him. Jeremy smiled.
'Yes,' she said, 'we are.'