Thanks again to all the reviewers, it's so good to know whether I'm on the right track or not. And don't give up on me Delena fans, you know I'll write it like it should be :)

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Elena stepped out of the car and walked up the path to the Boarding house, ready for answers. Katherine had been in the Salvatore's custody for nearly a day, and she was curious to see if she had said anything more about the 'others'. She knocked on the door and waited. She knew whatever Katherine had to say would only frighten her further, but she had to know. She had to be able to formulate a plan to keep them away from the people she loved.

Damon opened the door. He hadn't been prepared for her, and he swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. The moment had come, would she remember what he said to her last night?

"Let me guess," he began. "Come to check on the status of our new tenant?" He smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"I just wanted to know if you had an update," Elena said, holding his gaze. There was something about him today, an ache deep within those ice blue eyes that called out to her.

"Stefan's been talking to her, come on." He opened the door, and she walked inside. He led her downstairs to the cellar where Stefan sat beside Katherine. She pulled occasionally at the shackles around her wrists, testing their weight. When Elena walked in her eyes narrowed.

"What's she doing here?" Katherine growled. "Morbid curiosity?"

"I want to know about the others," Elena said flatly. She studied the close proximity of Stefan to Katherine, wondering why it didn't bother her. She shook it off.

"Evidently there are two upper level vampires looking to obtain the doppleganger in order to fulfill a prophecy. Klaus and Elijah. Klaus originally wanted Katherine, but he needs a human sacrifice. That's why Katherine turned," Stefan explained.

"So much for the confidentiality of pillow talk," Katherine said, glaring at Elena.

"Let me get this straight, Klaus and Elijah are looking for me because they need a human Katherine," Elena rehashed, looking confusedly between Stefan and Damon.

"Essentially, yes," Damon answered. "We don't know exactly what this curse of theirs does, or why it requires Petrova blood. What we do know is that they are aware of you." There was no easy way to tell her, so he'd just said it, watching the color drain from Elena's face. She took an uneasy step back, and Damon reached out to stabilize her.

She felt a familiar hand wrap around her waist and looked up at Damon. Her heart stumbled inside her chest. What was happening to her?

"I...um..." She stammered, wondering where her voice had gone. "I need to go." She ducked out of Damon's grasp and was nearing the front door before she heard Stefan calling after her.

"Look, we didn't mean to scare you. You need to know what's going on, and where you stand."

"Thank you," she said, though she didn't meant it. Whatever peace of mind she still retained in tact after her repeated supernatural experiences was slowly draining away with her preconceived notions of the known world.

"We're going to figure this out, don't worry," he said, taking her hands in his.

She nodded unconvincingly.

"Are you going to be okay?" He asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I just have some things to figure out." She looked down at their clasped hands, seeking the security they once offered. She allowed herself to be pulled into his embrace, resting her head on his chest. "It is going to be okay, right Stefan?"

He nodded, kissing the top of her head lightly. "I won't let anything happen to you."

"It's not me I'm worried about," she whispered. "Will you call me if you find out anything else?"

"Of course," he said, stepping back and brushing the hair from her face. "You know, i've missed you lately."

"What do you mean? I've been right here."

Stefan toyed with a lock of her hair, not meeting her gaze. "I know. You've just felt... distant lately."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know," she said, looking at him questioningly.

At her genuine confusion he nodded absently and opened the door for her. "It's probably just me. I've been preoccupied. I'll call you later."

Elena walked back out to her car, lost in thought as she drove home. Her fears had been confirmed. The others were coming for her. Only her. Stefan and Damon wouldn't be able to stop it this time. They would be too strong. This had to stop now, before anyone else got hurt.

She picked up her phone, and dialed Rose.

"What's up?" Rose answered.

"I need your help."

"That's a shock."

"I need to meet Slater, I have to ask him some questions about this prophecy."

"Well...," she said uneasily. "Let me see if Damon can drive us."

"No," Elena said quickly, trying not to sound too urgent. "They're busy, we can take my car. It shouldn't take long. I'm just... doing a little research. Trying to be proactive."

"Okay..." Rose replied, momentarily confused. "I'll meet you at your house in half an hour."

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"Here," Rose said, pointing towards a high-rise condominium. Elena pulled into the parking garage and they proceeded up to Slater's address. Rose knocked on the door, but there was nothing but silence.

"That's weird, I just spoke to him." She tried the doorknob and it was open. She looked carefully around the foyer, then signaled Elena to enter. "Doesn't look like he's home."

As Elena a rounded the corner into the living room, she stopped short and let out a terrified shriek. The vampire she assumed to be Slater was face down in a puddle of blood on the Persian rug.

Rose knelt beside the still form, shaking her head. "Oh Slater, he already knows doesn't he?"

"Yes, he does."

Elena and Rose jerked their heads towards the voice. A man leaned against the door frame, monitoring the scene. Elena recognized him immediately as Elijah. She jumped back, watching as Rose took off in a flash, utterly deserting her.

Oh great. "Elijah," Elena spoke, steeling herself against the fear rising in her throat. After all, this is why she was here.

"Wow," he whistled, giving her a once-over. "The resemblance is remarkable."

"I'm here to give myself to Klaus."

Elijah smiled, walking to her. "And that strong defiance, if the looks weren't already enough to convince me..."

"Now that you have me, leave the people I love out of this."

"Oh Elena, I don't want you yet. I just needed your attention. I have a proposition for you."

Elena stared at him dumbfounded. Why wasn't she dead yet?

"Klaus wants to break the spell of the moon and the sun, and I can't let that happen."

"What do you want from me?"

"Klaus will seek you out, and when he does I will be there."

"So... you want to use me to draw him out?"

"If you help me, I won't harm your family or your precious Salvatore lovers. I have been waiting for just this opportunity for centuries now."

Elena took a step back, contemplating the repercussions of agreeing with this ancient evil. She didn't have much of a choice. "Let me know when and where," She heard herself speak.

"Like hell you will!" She heard an angry voice protest. Her gaze immediately shot to a set of fiery blue eyes pinning her to the wall where she stood.

In an instant Damon stood between her and Elijah, settling into a position poised to strike.

"Ha!" Elijah laughed, clapping in amusement. "absolutely remarkable."

"I killed you," Damon retorted confusedly.

Elijah straightened, directing his attention back to Elena. "You and me, we have an agreement."

Elena nodded.

As quickly as he appeared, Elijah was gone.

Damon scanned the room, but he was nowhere to be seen. Convinced they were alone again, he spun on her. "Are you out of your mind?"

"I'm just trying -"

"I damn well know what you're trying to do." He closed in until he was toe to toe with her. He could feel her breathing quicken as she backed against the wall, meeting his stare defiantly.

Through the anger she could see flickers of pain. He braced one hand on the wall above her head, trapping her. He lowered his head until his lips were a breath above hers.

"You make it really difficult to save you."

"Maybe I don't want to be saved." She ducked beneath his arm and crossed the room towards the door.

She came to a sudden halt as his hand caught her arm. He pulled her against him, holding her captive. "This is not your decision."

His hands were firm and unyielding, yet she could feel the restraint in them. Her skin burned where he touched her, her heart speeding in her chest as she fought the rise of tension building within her. His lips seemed too close, too tempting. Why was she having these thoughts? She pushed back against the force that was Damon Salvatore, trying to free herself. She took a step back and her heels hit the base of the couch. Losing her balance, she toppled back against the cushions.

His shirt fell from his shoulders as he kissed her, backing her against the bed and following her down to the mattress. He deepened the kiss, trailing his lips down her neck, over the curve of her shoulder. "Damon," she moaned, arching her back and burying her hands in his dark hair. His lips continued their assault until he caught her nipple between his teeth through the thin lace of her black bra...

Elena blinked away the vision, staring up at Damon. Why did that feel so real? It felt like a memory, but she knew it couldn't be true. She loved Stefan... Stefan... But as he fumed, standing above her, trembling with fear and fury, she knew she was fooling herself. She tried to knock the alluring images from her mind, tried to forget the intensity of emotion she'd felt in the vision.

"You're coming home with me now," he growled, throwing her over his shoulder in one quick move. He carried her to the car and buckled her in, deftly avoiding her struggle. He didn't speak to her the entire way home, attempting to maintain his composure. She'd ventured there to kill herself, to give herself to Klaus in order to save them. To save him. Crazy woman. What was she thinking? After all they'd been though, she wasn't even going to say goodbye?

As soon as the car stopped in the driveway Elena was out and marching up to the door of the house.

"Don't bother saying thanks or anything," Damon complained, standing directly behind her. She turned to meet his gaze.

"I know what I'm doing."

"He could have killed you today."

"And he could kill you any day of the week for my association."

"Promise me you will never do that again." When she refused to speak he backed her against the door. He placed his hand against the side of her face. "Promise me you won't give up like that."

Electricity shot along her skin. Her breath caught. She was captivated by the strength in him, in the emotion that radiated from him. She saw a flash of white in her peripheral, and she focused in on the delicate dance of dogwood petals blowing carelessly in the breeze.

The petal was warm as he trailed it over her skin. She struggled to pull him closer, the desire building within her, claiming her. He kissed her, trailing the petal further, over the peak of her breast and down the flat plane of her stomach. He paused to look at her, and she lost herself in the blue depths. "Damon," she whispered, fighting unsaid words. He watched the flicker of passion wash over her as he brought the delicate petal gently across the lace of her panties, disappearing between her legs. Her eyes closed as she shattered...

The vision brought her instantly to reality. She could feel the warmth of arousal on her face, wondering if he would notice. A muscle ticked in his jaw.

"I can protect you from this."

"I know you can. I love you Damon."

He started at her for a moment in disbelief, wondering if he'd heard her right. Then in a moment of sudden surrender, he covered her mouth with his. He released his inhibitions, losing himself in the the feel of the woman he loved trembling beneath him. For him.

"God you make this so hard..."

She shook her head. It couldn't be true, could it?

"Damon," She whispered.

"Elena, I love you. God how I wish it could be enough." He held her, memorizing every curve, kissing her deeply before pulling back to catch her gaze...

"No..." She heard herself protest. Damon's brows knitted in confusion, his hand loosening on her arm.

"I wish you could remember this, but you can't..."

But she did...

She started up at him in disbelief, putting the pieces together. Hurt shone through her eyes, and something else, something... primal. Undiluted.

"Let me go," Elena growled, slipping out of his grasp. She disappeared behind the front door of the house, leaving him standing there, holding his dreams in empty hands. She collapsed back against the door, slowly sliding to the floor.

She was in love with Damon Salvatore.