Chapter 1 – Reunion

It's a love that consumes me.

That's what he always said I wanted. Right now, it's all I can think of. He emerges from the crypt and I feel it across every millimetre of my body. His eyes meet mine and I swear everything stops. I take a step towards him and release the breath I'd been holding. The step turns into a run, every stride reminds me I'm human with the stiff ache in my knees but I don't care.

I reach him with tears rolling down my face, gasping for small breaths. He plants his hands either side of my face and wipes my cheeks with the pad of his thumbs. His eyes are brimming, searching mine for something. Some small confirmation I'm really here, I'm really his.

"Elena Gilbert." He sighs, tension visibly draining from his brow with each second he holds me. "I- I don't-". A single tear drops and I instantly stretch up to kiss it away. One becomes two and I pepper his cheek. I'm in just as much disbelief that we're finally here. I finally press my lips to his as he begins to try for words again. My fingers find their place in his hair and his arms hold me tightly pressed to him. It's a squeeze I never want to be freed from.

"I know." I reluctantly break our mouths apart and begin to laugh and sob simultaneously. It feels like mere hours for me since we parted, I can't fathom how he's holding it together. All I see is love etched across his face, like it never left for a second while I slept. My brain begins to whirr and worry that he's spent these years in misery and I squeeze my eyes closed to hush the thoughts.

"Hey," He frowns and presses a kiss to my forehead, tightening his hold on me a little. I sigh again and enjoy the warmth. Slowly I remember we're not alone and look up to see Caroline both beaming and crying. It starts to rush back, we're here for Stefan. My heart rips itself from the joy of being with Damon and I feel a chill. I see her face fall and hurry to her.

"Caroline, I saw him." Her eyes widen as I throw my arms around her. "He heard you. He heard you and he'll love you forever too." I stroke her curls in what I hope is a comforting way. Caroline has always been strong, she's only gotten stronger since becoming a vampire and I don't doubt these years have made her even more incredible.

"He- He heard me?" Her face contorts into a wail and I feel her sink. "He got my message". I nod against the side of her head and just keep soothing her. I hear a faint breath and look up to see Damon turning away just as Bonnie reaches Caroline's other side. She gives me a nod I'm so grateful for and I get up with a kiss to Caroline's temple. I dust myself of the debris from the forest ground and reach him as he sits on the bench with his back to me.

I slide my arms round him and press my lips to the top of his head. I feel him flinch at the touch and throw a leg over the bench to face his side. "I didn't hear you coming" He looks to his hands and fidgets with his fingers. I realise his struggle. He's being forced to process so much. First the loss of his brother, followed by being reunited with me. All the while, coming to terms with the stark reality of mortality again.

He couldn't hear me approach. He can't see the same intricate detail he could just hours ago. He can't smell every man, animal and plant in a 3 mile radius anymore. I only had those skills for a short period in comparison to his century and a half. I rest my head on his shoulder, clasp his hands in mine and breathe him in. We stay like that for minutes, maybe hours, I truly can't tell. Every second feels like a high I can't sober up from, alongside a sorrow I can't imagine finding closure for. I feel him lift our hands and kiss them lightly. I can't be sure I didn't imagine it, but I swear his lips meet the third finger on my left hand. I smile and we stand slowly. We adjust our hands as I lean up once more for a reminder of my reality.

I feel his sigh as we kiss and my heart swells. Part of me feels wrong feeling this content in this moment, and the other part echoes Stefan's words. "You're the right man, Damon. A good man." At that, tears drop from his eyes and I see him tremble. I tighten my grip on his hand and hold his waist, connecting us as much as I can from my head on his chest to the toes of our boots knocking. The Salvatore brothers have shared this incredible bond, I can't say for sure how life continues for Damon after this. I'm painfully aware of how little his comfort did to reassure me when it was my brother's body lying on the sofa, and it was me breaking down.

Our love is true, our love is strong. It has seen us through so much pain, even before we knew it was love at all. All I can do now is hope our love can heal us both.