Elena stood in spot, unable to move. She knew each second counted but she couldn't decide what to do. She knew the chance of Damon being alive was slim to none, but if there was any chance, she had to take it.

On the other hand, Stefan had been there for her a long time. She could make it to him and warn him in time. She could save his life.

Elena bit her lip, not knowing what she should do. She closed her eyes, trying to sort through her thoughts and emotions that were going crazy in her mind.

But she knew, even though it wasn't the best choice in her life, Damon had always been there for her. She had to go back for Damon.

She reached in her purse to try and find her cellphone, but then realized she left it on her kitchen counter top. Shit!

She quickly walked out of the grill, the air seemingly have gotten colder. She wrapped her arms around herself, knowing she had to wait until she was alone to use her real speed. She prayed that Damon was alive, it finally hitting her that it was a possibility that he was really dead, just as she was realizing her real feelings for him.

Her eyes watered but she forced herself not to cry as she walked into the forest, now able to speed off towards the old cemetery where the men said they buried Damon, praying the entire way that he was alive.

Damon's stomach churned, He already hadn't eaten in days, and the physical pain was making him weak and hungry. He needed some food, but he was trapped under what he expected was about ten feet of dirt. There was no way anyone was going to find him. He was going to die in this casket, hungry and weak. Regretting everything he never told the people he loved.

He never told Stefan how much he liked having him as a brother, how much he respected him for trying to do the "Humane" thing. He never told Elena how much he really loved her. He'd never have the chance to prove himself to her, and if he loved her back, He would never be able to ask her to marry him, which he had only even contemplated doing since he met her. He would never get to kiss her again, or hold her in his arms. He'd never get to see her look pissed when he does something wrong, or her appreciative look when he does something right. He'd never see Elena again. Ever. And the thought brought tears to his eyes.

Damon never cried, but who was here to see him? He let the tears fall this time, thinking of Elena and only Elena. He had a long life, but he had only just started LIVING. He felt for the stake in his heart. Maybe he should just pull it through and end this misery that was the end of his life. There was no point in living now, he had nothing to live for in these last few hours of his pathetic existence.

Elena ran like hell through the forest. She finally saw the edge of the cemetery. She looked around for a new grave site and found one, the dirt strewn around the grass by the grave. Elena started towards it, but stopped when she saw a man standing not far from that grave.

He was watching the grave, but he didn't seem to have noticed her yet. She walked to another random grave, sitting in front of it, pretending to be mourning, really thinking of a way to dispose of this man.

She looked over to him out the corner of her eye. She noticed a bulge under his leather jacket, she took in the shape and assumed it was a stake. He also had a revolver lodged in his boot, and she knew it would be loaded with wooden bullets.

So how in the hell was she supposed to get to that grave? He was intensely watching it, making sure no one got to it, which made her think that it was possible Damon was alive. She stood up and turned to her. May as well take the bull by the horns and deal with him the way Damon would for her.

She started to walk back the way she came, and he watched her. She made sure he thought she was leaving before blurring towards him. He looked shocked but managed to grab his stake before she reached him. She launched herself at him, adrenaline pumping through her veins, Knowing taking him down was the only way to get to Damon. But sadly, he was trained well, and he managed to lodge the stake in her lower stomach.

"Fuck!" she swore out loud at the pain that radiated through her stomach, making her insides feel like they were on fire. She didn't have a second thought as she grabbed the sides of his head and snapped his neck, letting him drop to the ground as she painfully pulled the stake out of her stomach.

She looked down at the limp, lifeless body on the ground. Her first kill. She had to admit, what she felt now was triumph. She never thought it would feel like this. But this was no time to revel in her first kill, she had work to do.

She turned to the grave and took a deep breath, prepping herself of what she may find. She didn't bring a shovel or anything, so she simply sunk to her knees and started digging. It was quick work and soon she scooped the last bit of dirt off of the top of the casket. She took a deep breath and unlatched the sides of the casket.

Elena opened the lid of the casket, holding her breath, then let out a sigh of relief as she saw his eyes open and staring at her as if he saw an angel, his chest rising and falling, but she let out a gasp as she saw the the splintery piece of wood sticking out of his chest. He coughed and she gasped.

"Damon!"

Damon looked up at Elena. He didn't even know if he was still alive, but it didn't really matter. What mattered was that he could see her. His chest was so numb now, he didn't even feel the steak, he coughed and looked into her eyes*

"E-Elena?"

Damon watched Elena's eyes filled with tears as she reached down for his hands, pulling him up. Now he could feel the steak, and the pain radiated throughout his whole body. He looked down at it and realized that his body was trying to heal itself around the wood. He went to pull it out from behind, but winced and stopped.

"Elena.." Damon was gasping for air now. "I need you to help me.."

Damon looked at Elena as she gulped and nodded, moving to behind him, grabbing the larger end of the stake.

"Just tell me what to do.."

"Just pull it out.. quick at straight.:"

"Damon, I don't think I can do this.."

"Yes you can. Elena, I know you can."

She bit her lip and nodded, pulling the stake straight out of his back. Damon let out an involuntary yelp of pain.

"Fuck! Elena.."

Elena dropped the stake and the wound instantly started healing itself before her eyes. She turned so she was in front of him, her eyes watering again.

"I thought you were.."

Damon didn't let Elena finish her sentence. He gently placed his index finger over her lips before stroking her cheek gently.

"Don't say it.. I'm not.. But how the hell did you find me?"

Elena smiled, telling him about her finding the flowers and going to look for him. She told him about all her overloading emotions, and how much she just needed to find him. She also told him about what she heard in the bar, and how she knew you were here. Finally she motioned to the body.

"I had to kill him.. but it was worth it to find you."

Damon smiled at her. A genuine, love filled smile, and tears filled his eyes, which shocked Elena to see. He cupped both her cheeks and crashed his lips against hers. There was no hesitation, just a passion neither of them could believe. A feeling of security, of rightness.

Elena needed Damon just as much as Elena needed Damon. At that moment they were eachother's, nothing else mattered at all.

They kissed for a few moments before pulling away and looking into eachother's eyes. They were one in that moment, and they knew, no matter what happened over the last year, they were meant to be with one another.

It was a few moments before Elena remembered.

"Shit! They're going after Stefan!".