Sheriff Forbes patience had been wearing thin when she was waiting for the news reporter to make her departure, this isn't like her. What Sheriff Forbes was considering was breaking several laws. She didn't have any warrant nor were they reported suspects on the unexplainable killings that had occurred. With the usual cases, she took her time to examine, gather evidence and configure questions that caused suspects to out themselves without her having to put fear into their eyes. She even followed the rules and lived by them. Sheriff Forbes is certain that she is good at her job, but unlike the other cases, this one had affected her personal life. Her annoyance had vanished when she saw something flash before her eyes. And then felt a surge of wind blow past her. She turned her eyes to try and capture what it was that had zoomed past her but she didn't see anything. When she turned back to look at the house she saw a familiar woman sitting in the car. Wait it was Andie. Within a second the car in the drive way had been empty, and then Andie appeared in the car. She was looking dazed and in a trance, almost as if she had no idea how she had gotten there. Mrs. Forbes felt as though her eyes were playing tricks on her, or maybe she was hallucinating. But she wasn't, the sheriff watched as Andie pulled out of the driveway. Forbes took a minute to recollect her thoughts and reminded herself of why she was there.

It only took the sheriff a minute to get back down to business. She cautiously checked her surroundings again before walking casually across the Salvatore's lawn up to their stairs. Mrs. Forbes bent down and slid her trembling hand under the mat to retrieve the key. But the space was empty, she swore under her breath as she rose to stand. The sheriff reached in one of the compartments on her belt and pulled out the lock pick kit. She had planned to use this earlier but when she saw the news reporter use the spare key. She figured she could let herself in rather than break in. After three failed attempts, the sheriff was going to give up but on the fifth try, she heard the light sound of a click. The sheriff pushed the door lightly with her index and middle finger, before poking her head out to see if the area was clear. She gently tapped the door with her shoulder as she quietly crept into the house. The sheriff withdrew her gun from its holster and began to examine the house. Every so often she'd point her gun to both her left and right or behind her, making sure her blind sides were secure.

After taking a safe tour of the house and coming up empty she was disappointed, she was thinking about leaving but her gut was telling her to dig deeper. The sheriff was heading back towards the study to see if they documented anything but stopped in mid stride, when she came across stairs that she assumed lead to the basement. Mrs. Forbes took each step down one at a time every now and then she'd turn around to point the gun behind her. When she reached the basement, she spotted something that appeared to be a box, she walked over to it. Curiosity consuming her thoughts as she placed her gun back in its holster and opened the box. Fear and shock swirled in her stomach as she stared wide eyed at the packets and packets of blood bags. She began to realize it wasn't a box it was a freezer full off stolen blood bags. Her mind started to move a mile a minute connecting all of the dots. Everything was becoming clearer now. Her suspicions were right, what Matt had told her was right. She reached in her pocket and pulled out her phone and began to take several pictures of the open freezer. Forbes closed the freezer shut and headed back up the stairs and out of the house. When she was securely in her car she called up Matt. After she apologized and practically begged Matt to visit her at her office saying it was in regards to Caroline. The sheriff was able to convince him and was smiling gleefully as she pulled off and headed to the police station.

"Do you think this is going to work?" Bonnie asked as she turned to look at Stefan.

"I hope so." Stefan said not at all sounding enthusiastic. She assumed it was from fear of being disappointed. Stefan watched as Bonnie lifted both her hands and all the candles became lit. She closed her eyes and began to call on Emily.

"Emily I call on you, as a witch in need, a sister's in need of a cure." Stefan looked around him before focusing his gaze back on Bonnie, whose eyes were still closed. Piercing silence filled the air there was no movement and neither one of them even let out a breath. Bonnie repeated what she had said only this time she added a spell at the end. Suddenly the candles blew out, and a figure appeared from the dark shadows of a corner.

"Hello Stefan." Emily said with a grin. "Bonnie." Emily said with a nod. "It's good to see you Stefan. You look the same, except for the hair.

"As do you…. Emily." Stefan said with a nod.

"I'm sure the reason you had Bonnie call on me was not to chit chat or catch up."

"No." "I actually need your help." Emily waited patiently to hear his favor. "I need to know if there is a spell that could cure a werewolf bite."

"Cure you say…have you been bitten?" Emily asked her eyes searching his body for the deadly wound.

"No… Damon has." Stefan said hesitantly. Emily's face slightly faltered.

"There's a myth, about there being a cure for a werewolf bite." "Supposedly a witch way before my time, named Rebecca Steinway was in love with a vampire named Henry Beckford. As you know this was extremely frowned upon. One day a rival of Henry's, pays him a visit, revenging his lover's death. The werewolf bites him, and Rebecca starts making up spells to cure him. After several fails, she finds one and saves his life." Stefan looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to finish but when she didn't he decided to ask the question that was on his mind.

"Do you happen to know if this spell has been documented?" Stefan asked, hope evident in his voice.

"No, I don't. It's a myth, but as you know most myths are built on truth." Emily replied. Stefan nodded his head slowly trying to processes the information

"Do you have a suggestion for a spell or –"

"Stefan… there is no cure." Emily said firmly, Stefan began to shake his with disagreement he begged to differ. There had to be. "Damon wanted this life, he got it and the consequences of being a vampire are being weak to a werewolf bite. It's his time to die." Emily added, with a lack of sympathy or remorse.

Caroline placed a yellow arrow next to a sign that read "Seating Area", when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around a smile slowly spreading across her face.

"Hey Tyler." Caroline stepped close towards him but stepped back as he moved towards her. She was unsure if she should hug him or just wave. She decided to just not move at all. Ever since that day Tyler came back, some unexplainable feelings stirred within her. She had been so happy to see him, and know that he was okay. But then Matt broke up with her, leaving her to feel confused about her and Tyler.. Sensing the awkwardness Tyler began talking, hoping that would break the tension.

"I-uh just wanted to thank you for what you did for me, the other night." Tyler said with a small smile as he stuffed his hands into his pant pockets. Caroline blushed and stared at her feet before answering.

"That's what friends are for." Caroline said with a bashful smile as she shrugged her shoulders. Tyler shook his as a chuckle escaped from his lips. She never could just take a compliment.

"Well, friends don't almost kill friends." Tyler said with amusement on his face.

"You're right they don't, and you didn't." Caroline patted him on his shoulder before walking past him carrying the basket of plastic yellow arrows.

"Are you staying for the rest of the festival or are you just volunteering?" Tyler asked nervousness slowly consuming him. He wasn't sure why he was nervous, they were just friends…right? Tyler watched intently as Caroline moved a strand of her from her face, and then bit her bottom lip with hesitation. His mind traveled back to that night he kissed her, how soft her lips felt against his. NO! He shouted to himself, they're just friends, and nothing more.

"I-uh…" Caroline said with a strained voice as she tried to hang another sign that read "Seating Area". Tyler came up behind her and placed his hands on alongside of hers before pressing down. She could feel his warm breath tickling her ear. Caroline's eyes closed slightly as she released the breath she didn't even know she was holding. "Thank you." She whispered breathlessly, as she turned around slowly to face him, before answering his question.

"I-uh… yea-yeah I'm staying for the festival with Elena… cause with everything that happened I figured I could get her out of the dreadful Salvatore house and distract her." Caroline rambled quickly. Tyler nodded his head slowly trying to follow everything that she had said.

"So…uh you wouldn't mind me joining you guys….would you?" Tyler asked his heart began to pick up speed as he waited for her response.

"No, of course not, you could definitely join us."A wide smile spread across Tyler's face

"Okay then." Tyler said with a nod the wide grin still implanted on his face. They're eyes locked for a split seconded, when Caroline saw a familiar figure out of her peripheral. Suddenly the smile dropped from her face, as she watched Matt leaving the Grill. Her heart ached to call out to him, to see how he was doing. Tyler turned around and spotted what had caused Caroline to become frozen. She brought her attention back to Tyler. She knew there was something there between them, and a large part of her wanted to explore that feeling. But, Caroline didn't want him to be the rebound guy, even if she does have feelings for him. She wasn't over Matt, just yet and it would be fair to either of them if they jumped into a relationship.

Elena closed the lids of the cardboard box, placed duck tape over the gap where the two folds met and then wrote coats & jackets in black permanent marker. Her eyes scanned the room around her a small proud smile surfaced her lips at the progress she had made. Her eyes moved to Jenna's drawers, they were the only thing left to clean out. Elena walked over towards them, and ran her hand over the cherry wood surface of the dresser before opening the long top drawer. She picked up an empty open cardboard box and began removing its contents, humming a lullaby that Jenna use to sing to her when she was little. Elena abruptly stopped humming when she felt a gush of wind blow past her, she removed the strands of hair that blocked her vision, and pulled them behind her ear. Her eyes followed where the wind had blown and found Damon leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed.

"What are you doing here?" Elena asked with curiosity and a hint of suspicion.

"I figured you could you some help." Damon said as he began walking towards her. Damon could see several questions raising in her eyes an amused smile began to tug at his lips.

"How did you know I was here?" Elena asked

"Oh, Stefan didn't tell you, vampires are psychic."Damon said sarcastically raising his dark raven eye brows for effect. Elena rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips, not amused by his sarcasm. "A little vampire told me." Damon shrugged before picking up a picture of a young Jenna and Elena. A small smile began to spread across his face as his eyes focused in on Elena's innocent face covered in chocolate ice cream, smiling up at Jenna. A sigh escaped his lips as he brought his gaze upon Elena's. She was flipping through Jenna's mail, throwing some in a garbage bag while placing others in a decorative box.

"I told Caroline I wanted to do this alone." Elena said with an agitated sigh as she checked Jenna's other end table. No one seemed to respect her wishes, then again Stefan always did. She wouldn't have suspected Damon to be the one to check up on her, maybe Stefan or Bonnie or even Jeremy but not Damon. Something seemed off to her, she looked over her shoulder at Damon, and questions started flying through her mind.

"Why aren't you helping Stefan look for leads on Klaus and Elijah's whereabouts?"Elena asked casually, not trying to seem as if she was interrogating him. She knew how Damon could get if he felt he was being under attacked with questions.

"Because… I'm here trying to help you."Damon said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Damon…" Elena said skeptically. She was busy going through another pile of mail when one specific manila envelope caught her eye, its blue tint, made it stand out from all the others.

"You seem to take my help when you need it, but never take it when I offer." Damon pursed his lips as he looked through Elena's baby pictures, before adding. "I'm starting to feel used."Damon said pretending to sound hurt. Elena had tuned him out a while ago. Her mind was focused on the blue letter she was holding. She turned the envelop over in her hands and examined Jenna's script writing that read: To Elena on the front of it. Elena opened the letter and read the letter silently.

Dear Elena,

I thought that I would mess up at raising you, but it appears I didn't have to do much in that department. You have grown into the most intelligent, incredible and strong woman that I knew you would become. You're such a splitting image of your mom when she was your age. You both are just as stubborn, just as caring and take charge in any and every situation. That's why I am not surprised that you graduated today. You are truly one of the strongest and optimistic person, I have ever met. You have prevailed through so many hardships and have come out on the other side. I know if your mother and father were here, they would be boo-hooing and gushing proudly over their incredible baby girl. Please continue to strive for success and don't let your past hold you back. Follow your heart with any and every decision you make. Love with every fiber of your being, explore every crevice of this earth that we live on. Enjoy life, and try to capture as many great experiences as you can. And don't let what if's or regret hold you back. Promise me you won't take life for granted because as we both know life isn't always promised. I am proud of you Elena, and I can't wait to be at your next graduation for college and many more of your accomplishments. I love you.

Love,

Aunt Jenna.

"Elena?" Damon called out to her. But she didn't respond she was too consumed in the piece of paper in her hands. He walked over to her and gently removed the paper from her hands.

"She wrote me a graduation letter." Elena said softly with a shaky voice, Damon watched her silently she was looking straight ahead in at nothing Elena could feel the tears prickling the back of her eyes, but she fought it."I wish I wouldn't have tried so hard to keep secrets from her…I wish I would have appreciated her." Damon knelt down beside her so he could see her face. She avoided eye contact, and focused on her opened palms.

"It's not your fault." Damon whispered, Elena's eyes snapped up and peered into his. "It's not your fault." Damon whispered softly this time. She began to close her eyes trying to fight the tears that were begging to be shed. "Elena..." Damon whispered guilt, sadness and concern consumed his voice.. Elena reluctantly opened her eyes to look at him. And again he repeated it wasn't her fault.

"Yes."Elena said through trembled lips, she swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat before continuing. "It is my fault." She nodded her head as a sob escaped her lips. "It's all my fault." The tears broke free and glided down her cheeks, stopping it's journey at her chin. Elena was unaware that she had been sobbing loudly, until she felt Damon's hand rubbing her shoulder, bringing her back to the present. She tried to stop the sobs, she tried to stop her lips from trembling but the more Damon looked at her and caressed her shoulders and back. She began to feel herself give in.

Elena looked into both of Damon's piercing blue eyes and threw her arms around his neck. He was caught off guard by the act. He had dreamed even fantasized about holding her in his arms. But this was different, it wasn't passion or lust. It was raw emotion, someone whom he cared about in need of comfort and a sense of security. Damon was hesitant at first but slowly he began to pull her closer to him. Elena held onto him tighter, needing the security and comfort. Damon was becoming uncomfortable in this position, so he slowly rose from the ground and hooked his arm under the back of Elena's knees. Before picking her up and placing her on his lap. Damon could feel her body shake in his arms violently, he tried his best to comfort and soothe her. He ran his hand through her long silky chestnut mane, before caressing her scalp and whispering "it's going to be okay" in her ear. After, twenty minutes he felt her body slowly began to relax, and the sobbing was switched to whimpers and then within five minutes all he heard were her sniffles.

Elena was becoming aware of where she was and who was holding her. She slowly began to unwind her arms and slid herself off of Damon's lap onto the bed. Elena avoided eye contact with and gulped down the uncomfortable dryness that had formed in her throat.

"Thank you." Elena whispered with a hoarse voice, before giving him what he assumed was a smile. Damon watched Elena start to busy herself, packing away what was left of the room. Concern and guilt engraved in his face.

"Do you need any help?" Damon asked concern still engraved on his face.

"No… I got it." Elena said as walked passed him carrying a box full of Jenna's clothing. Damon watched as she placed the box near the stairs. "Do you think you can bring this one down and put it in Jenna's car? It's in the garage." Elena said sniffling while tossing him the keys

"Elena…" Damon said softly. She ignored the concerned look on his face and walked passed him. He grabbed her arm gently. An exasperated sigh escaped her lips. He released her arm and she slowly turned around to face him. "You shouldn't blame yourself." Damon said with a sigh. "If anything you should blame Stefan." Elena gave him a skeptical look. "What… he hasn't gotten blamed for anything lately." Damon said, hoping his joke would lessen the frown lines that were forming on her forehead. When he realized he only made it worse he quickly tried to clean up the mess. "Look, blame me then…" Damon said getting prepared for what he was about to say.

"It's not your fault." Elena said glumly. Damon shook his head in disagreement.

"It is…if I didn't save Caroline…or Tyler…then Klaus wouldn't have needed Jenna." He left out the little factor that he had been willing to sacrifice his life for her. The last thing he needed was for her to feel guilty about his death too. Damon watched Elena's expression change. Her face went from glum to disgust and a mixture of anger. Damon wanted to immediately take it back he didn't want Elena to hate him. But he knew he'd rather that she did hate him, in hopes that she would stop blaming herself for something she wasn't even aware would happen. And maybe when it was his time to die, she wouldn't feel too much pain. Elena had been quiet, extremely quiet, as her eyes bore daggers into him.

"I know I don't deserve your forgiveness." Damon began hesitantly. Elena pressed her lips into a tight line biting back the words that had formed in her mind. "But I need it." Damon begged.

A/N: Thanks for reading I know I ended it on a weird spot, I was unsure where I wanted to go with this, but I had to keep replaying the promo and remind myself this is Elena... not my fantasy Elena who would have most likely kissed Damon from being so close in proximity. But, really Elena is stubborn, and isn't one to forgive so easily. Stay tuned Chapter 5 is half way done, still a few more scenes to add so bare with me.