There was only one dose of the cure. That does would go home…and be shoved down Klaus' throat. The rest of them would remain vampires. Elena sighed as she walked toward the boats. They had managed to escape the caves unscathed. Bonnie had taken down Silas easily. They'd found everyone…except for Damon. Bonnie, Rebekah, Jeremy, and Shane would head home, while Stefan and Elena stayed behind to find Damon. As Elena walked to the boat to say goodbye to her brother and her friends, she felt something bounce off the toe of her boot. Looking down, she saw the familiar silver shine from the sand. She bent over, picking up the ring. It slid down over her finger, and she gasped. Stefan walked up behind her. "What did you find?" he asked. Elena couldn't move. She couldn't think. She couldn't breathe. Stefan bent down, reaching over and pulling Elena's hand to him. "Elena. What did you—" he stopped when he saw his brother's ring. "He's gone." she said. Stefan looked around. "That's why we haven't see anything from him. Somebody took his ring and watched him burn to death." he confirmed. "Or he did it to himself." she said. "No…Elena, he wouldn't do that to you." Stefan soothed.
It was three months later and Elena still didn't know how Stefan had convinced her to leave the island that day. She'd halfway lived since they'd returned home…taking care of Jeremy…cleaning the house, but she rarely left. Damon's ring resided on a chain around her neck and she silently prayed everyday that he would somehow come home to her.
A few weeks later, Elena stepped out of the shower. She wrapped a towel around herself and walked out into her bedroom, looking for pajamas. "Hey princess. Could I borrow that ring around your neck? This only going out at night thing is a bitch." he said. Elena gasped and turned around. She'd sworn several times she'd seen him…heard him…but it couldn't be real, right? She blinked a few times. "I'm here, Elena." he smiled, realizing what she was doing. Running over, Elena jumped, wrapping her arms around him. "You're alive!" she squealed. Damon laughed and caught her, hugging her tightly. "I am." he nodded. "Hey! You left me on that damn island." he teased. "I thought—I found your ring and…I wouldn't have—" she stuttered. Damon smiled. "Don't sweat it. I was teasing you. You had every reason to believe I was gone." he said, stroking her face. Elena leaned in and gave him a dizzying kiss. "I'm so glad you are home." she smiled. Damon nodded.
Elena pulled Damon down on her bed. "Catch me up on everything I've missed." he said. "Nope. Tomorrow. Tomorrow I will catch you up on everything." she promised. "Well…what are we doing tonight?" he asked, raising his eyebrow. Elena crawled on top of him, leaning down and pressing her lips to his. "You tell me." she smirked.
