Chapter 3

Elena

Elena felt her every muscle go cold.

"Those were the exact words Damon?" Stefan asked, concerned.

"That's what she said. No exaggeration, you have my word on that brother." Elena looked up at Damon. His words were true; she could tell they were being spoken from the Damon who regretted getting Stefan locked away in the dark dimension. This was the Damon who she had begun to fall in love with on their journey to saving Stefan.

And the fear in her body elevated further at how serious he was. Damon would never give his word on something untrue; it was one of the things you could always trust. Damon never broke or lied about his word.

She sat herself down on the bed, by the side of Bonnie who was propped up on the pillows, looking nervously at Elena and the groggily putting a hand to her head.

"I'm sorry Elena. You know what I'm like in a trance, I just talk rubbish, I'm sure it's nothing." She started. Elena felt as though Bonnie was trying harder to convince herself that the words she had spoken were false, let alone console Elena.

'You know, Bonnie's never been wrong.' Elena heard Damon whisper in her mind.

'Thanks Damon. That makes me feel so much better.' Elena thought right back and she saw Damon look at her with a slight smile. But it wasn't from humour; it was hiding an emotion he didn't want seen

Elena couldn't bear the thought that after everything she had done to get back her Stefan, after everything he'd given up to be Human for her, that she would simply die now and that would be the end?

'Oh no you don't Elena Gilbert! You are not going out without some major fighting back' Elena thought to herself.

'I should hope not too! You better not give up on us Salvatore's now' Damon's voice spoke again.

'Do you mind eavesdropping on my private thoughts?' Elena replied adding a hint of annoyance to her words.

'You can't eavesdrop on thoughts that are being yelled at you' he sent back amused.

Elena looked at him, realised that she had lost control of her aura and used her Power to hide it completely.

'Sorry. Being told that death is going to claim you kind of throws you off.' Elena answered and their telepathy was interrupted by Stefan starting to talk.

"Elena. Love, don't be afraid. There's no way anything is going to hurt you ever again." Stefan walked over to the bed and sat beside her to take her hand.

"And how do you plan to stop it Brother? You're just a human now; you're not protecting her from anything in a hurry." Damon glared at Stefan.

"And you think you can?" Stefan snapped back.

"I think I have a precaution we can take; yes" Damon answered in a matter of fact way.

Elena lifted her head, 'Where is he going with this?' she thought to herself, wondering what Damon was doing, messing with Stefan this way.

"Whatever it is, I'm certain we're not going to like it" Stefan muttered back, clearly angry about not being able to protect Elena as well now he was human.

"Ah. But hear me out brother. What if we were to take certain...measures...to ensure that if Elena did accidentally get...killed; well then she wouldn't exactly die...not permanently anyway." Elena could tell that Damon was wording his suggestion carefully, but she didn't understand what he meant.

Stefan however clearly did.

"Damon! Any excuse with you isn't it! This is serious and all you're thinking about is your next fix?" He yelled jumping up off the bed and getting ready to head toward Damon, fists clenched. But Elena was faster and she grabbed him and pulled him back to the bed.

"Stefan, calm down" She whispered in his ear and gave him a gentle kiss to get him to focus. Stefan sighed deeply with rage at his brother, but Elena felt him relax a little under her touch.

Elena still didn't understand what Damon was suggesting.

'Damon. What are you suggesting exactly?' She sent to him, still holding Stefan in her hug.

'Well, it's only sense. A little blood sharing between us would make it as though if you did die...you'd come back a Vampire. It's the perfect way to cheat Death.' Damon sent back at Elena felt a little hope.

'It could work' she thought to herself but then she shook the idea from her head 'how could you even think of being that disloyal to Stefan. What would it do to him! Shame on you Elena' she cried at her own mind.

"I'm actually hurt that you would think that way Stefan. Here am I, offering to help make your one true love invincible from death and you think it is for my own gain?" Damon put his hand to his heart as he acted his words to Stefan.

Elena prepared to restrain Stefan again, knowing he would fly off the handle, but she was shocked when he just sat there numb.

She fought back herself this time. "Stop it Damon, right now. We'll talk about how to 'make me invincible' later, but Stefan needs to rest now so..." Elena raised her eyebrows at Damon, trying to get him to leave.

'Damon, Bonnie needs to get home. She's been through a lot today and if you wouldn't mind taking her...' Elena sent to Damon, desperate to get him gone.

Damon looked disappointed, but he nodded and walked over to pick Bonnie up.

"Wait." Stefan whispered and Damon and Bonnie froze.

Elena looked at Stefan confused.

"Damon, though I hate the very idea of you being all over Elena. If you promise to only see it as doing me a great favour...though I doubt it will be unpleasant for you...Look, I am asking you to do this to save Elena because I can't save her anymore." Stefan kept his eyes on the floor like a shamed puppy. Elena saw tears in his evergreen eyes and her heart tugged.

'He thinks he's letting me down' she thought.

"Stefan, there's no need. We'll find another way; I swear there will be another way." Elena cried, taking his face in her hands.

"No. This is the only way I know you will be safe. I will not stop you from being protected as far as any possibility will allow just because of my pride. Damon can give you that and I can't. And I know he'll never let me live it down...but it something I need him to do, if I'm going to be able to stay sane." Stefan was trying to stop his tears and his pain was so torturing Elena's own tears had started welling.

"Look Stefan, No! I won't do it." Elena cried. She couldn't even think of letting herself do that with Damon.

"Do it for me my lovely love. Please." Stefan looked up at her, taking in her beauty.

Silence was between them as they looked into each other's eyes, each filled with love, ready to die for each other.

Damon interrupted their embrace and completely ruined the atmosphere.

"Right then, it's a date." Damon grinned.

'He doesn't understand. He's never understood the love that Stefan and I have.' Elena thought.

Stefan stood up at Damon's smirk. "Believe me, I would never ask...and if you dare try to take advantage of this..." His fists were clenched again and Elena felt no wish to restrain him this time. This wouldn't be pleasant between her and Damon. She would make it as painful as she possibly could for herself if that was what she had to do.

"Anything for you brother, I'm certain I will hate every minute." Damon said with a wink at Elena.

Stefan went to charge forward, ready to lash out at Damon.

Damon had clearly anticipated this so he had already scooped up Bonnie and was heading out of the door.

'I'll see you soon, Elena. And next time, it will be under very good circumstances.' Elena heard Damon's voice echoed as he left.