AN: This story takes place after Stefan was compelled to turn off his humanity switch in Season 3 of The Vampire Diaries. The story goes along with everything leading up to that point. Stefan gave himself up to save Damon but in the process ended up pushing Elena further and further away. Elena and Damon spend months trying to chase after Stefan to get him back but when they would catch up with him he would treat them both badly. On the night Stefan turned off his humanity my story implies that Stefan not only physically tortured Elena, he was emotionally abusive as well. He was at the point of killing her when Damon and Alaric arrive to save Elena as well as capture Stefan and at that point they start the process to make him turn his humanity back. So pretty much after Stefan turns off his humanity my story doesn't follow along with the events on TVD.

*Characters belong to LJ Smith.

PROLOGUE

DAMON

I couldn't believe what I was about to do. My mind was waging war against my heart. Everyone had agreed that this would be the best for Elena. Well, everyone but Elena. She didn't have a clue what was about to happen, what I was about to do to her, for her. It was my gift to this beautiful wonderful girl that I loved more than I had ever loved a single soul in my life. It was the most unselfish thing I would ever do and it was killing the part of me that still felt anything. The only part of me that I hadn't already shut off from the world.

It was late, the sky was dark with only a sliver of the moon visible, when I slipped into her bedroom window. I stood by the bed watching her sleep, her chest rising and falling slowly, her heart beating steadily. I gently brushed a lock of her brown hair off her face. With the speed I was blessed to have as a vampire I removed her vervain infused necklace hiding it under her pillow. I laid down in the bed beside her, laying on my side facing her.

"Elena" I whispered softly, not wanting to wake up Jeremy or Alaric. Although I was pretty sure Alaric was still awake. He was trying to be quiet but his breathing wasn't deep and even like Jeremy's. They both knew what I was doing tonight. Alaric knew more than anyone what this meant for me, how this would affect me. He had always been rooting for me to "get the girl". That possibility would irrevocably end tonight.

Elena mumbled in her sleep, rolling onto her side facing me. Our faces inches apart and I wanted more than anything to kiss her. She was still technically Stefan's girl, even after everything he had done lately. He was the reason that I was here about to do something that was breaking my heart.

"Elena" I gently stroked her cheek.

"Damon?" She slowly opened her chocolate brown eyes and looked sadly into mine.

Stefan had wounded her not just physically but emotionally when he had attacked her a couple of nights ago at the high school. She finally met the monster that Stefan had always tried to keep hidden. With his emotions off he was cruel, taking great satisfaction in causing pain and fear. I had never seen Stefan terrorize anyone to the degree than he had her. Thankfully, Alaric was there to help, it took both of us to save Elena and to capture Stefan.

Elena deserved a better life than this. A chance at a long happy future without all the complications that Stefan and I brought into her life. I had to give this to her even though everything in me was screaming to hold her tight and never let her go.

"Hey…" I gave her my best smirk.

Her lips turned up into a sleepy smile. "What are you doing here?"

"I like watching you sleep. It's better entertainment than anything on late night tv."

"Damon… Seriously." She smiled at me even though her tone was impatient.

"You ok?" My ice blue eyes searching hers.

She sighed softly, her eyes looking down for a minute before looking back at mine. "He's gone Damon. And I… we just have to accept it."

"I know." We laid there both deep in thought for a while. With a sigh I knew it was time. I looked deep into her eyes. I had to know something first and it was unfair to do it, but I needed to know.

"Elena, tell me the truth, do you have feelings for me?" I knew my compulsion was working, I saw her pupils dilate as she lost herself in my eyes.

"Yes."

"Are you in love with me?"

"Yes, Damon. But I love Stefan too."

"I know." I hesitated for only a second. "I'm going to kiss you now."

"Ok"

I leaned forward and brought my lips to hers softly, slowly deepening the kiss as our lips moved together. I nipped at her bottom lip and heard a soft moan at the back of her throat. I ran my tongue over bottom lip and she let me slip it into her mouth. Our tongues moved together with a building urgency. I reveled in the taste of her mouth, the feel of her lips, her hand in my hair. All too soon I pulled away, separating our lips and stared back into her beautiful eyes. We were both breathing heavily and I could hear Elena's heart beating wildly in her chest.

"I love you Elena. I always will. But now I need you to forget your feelings for me. You know me only as Stefan's older brother. Stefan is an ex-boyfriend from high school that you knew you didn't love and he wasn't the right one for you so you broke it off, with no regrets and no looking back. " I paused to keep my voice from cracking and to wipe away the tear that slipped down my cheek.

"You will not remember that there are supernatural beings in the real world, they are just make believe things from the movies or tv. You won't remember anything about Klaus or Elijah. Your Aunt Jenna died from an animal attack in the woods. You only need to know that you have a bright happy future ahead of you. You will graduate high school and move away to college. One day you will meet a wonderful man who will sweep you off your feet. You will be happy and live your life to the fullest." I paused wondering if there was anything else I should say. My lips slowly turned up into a smirk.

"Always remember to not trust anyone named Klaus. Now go back to sleep my sweet Elena." She nodded closing her eyes. With vampire speed I put her necklace back around her neck and jumped out her window. I stood underneath her window for an hour listening to her breathing, memorizing her scent and locking away the memory of our kiss for safe keeping. It would have to last me for the rest of my immortal life.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed.

"Damon?"

"Hey blondie, it's done." I was about to hang up when Caroline started speaking.

"I'm sorry Damon. I know how hard it must have been for you. But it really is the best thing for her."

"Yeah, I know." I hung up, pushing away from the side of Elena's house silently saying my last goodbye.