Damon and Elena cautiously entered the abandoned house where they were to meet Caroline and one of the Originals.

Elena had argued ferociously against what she considered a dubious plan. "No way can they get us out of this! An Original may get the crowd to back down for now, but it won't stop everyone. I want you out of this."

Damon had insisted on trying. "An Original can turn the tide. We can do this, Elena."

So now they were here, facing a solemn Caroline and Tyler. "Hey," Caroline said softly.

"What gives? Why is Tyler here? I thou—" Damon was interrupted by the weight of a hand bearing down on his shoulder. Startled he half turned to catch a quick glimpse of his brother's face.

"Hello, brother." Damon heard only those two words before everything went black.

Elena stood frozen, stunned by the quick turn of events. Her gaze traveled from her old Mystic Falls school mates to the crumpled body on the floor and finally to Stefan's familiar, somehow comforting face. Various emotions chased each other across her face as she processed what she was seeing. Caroline's stricken expression told her the truth.

"There is no Original coming to the rescue, is there?" Elena didn't appear disturbed by the probable outcome.

Stefan shrugged, not bothering to confirm the obvious, and spoke over his shoulder to the other two. "Get him out of here and as far away as you can. Put the note I gave you in his pocket. Break his neck again when he starts to come round and keep doing it til you get him out of the country. Then head for the hills."

"Think he's gonna be a little mad?" Tyler tried for a joke.

"Stay out of his way for at least twenty years." Stefan spoke without taking his eyes from Elena.

Her gaze never wavered from his as she spoke quietly. "Thanks, guys."

"Elena." Caroline's face crumpled as she started to cry, and she couldn't say anything else.

Elena walked over and shook her shoulders gently. "It's okay, Caroline. I knew I wasn't going to get out of this. We did what we shouldn't have done."

When Caroline continued to sob Elena commanded, "Look at me."

Elena waited until Caroline finally got control and looked up, before saying, "The only thing I felt bad about was that Damon was going to pay for this with me." She smiled wryly and looked briefly back at Stefan. "I can pay my debt now and finally be at ease. My relatives . . those kids will be safe, and that is everything to me."

She looked at Tyler staring at the floor and then back to Caroline. "Thank Bonnie for me. It really bothered me that Damon was going to die for my choice."

She spoke again, but she didn't speak directly to Caroline. Her words might have been aimed at Stefan. "To know that you hurt people is one of the most terrible burdens you can bear. Once I realized . . Once it really sunk in . . . To have to live shouldering that every day has been horrible. Living every day knowing what you've done . . . ." She let her voice trail away.

Caroline nodded and stiffened her spine, shooting her chin up.

Tyler stooped and hefted Damon up over his shoulder. Caroline kissed Elena on the forehead and then briefly gazed at Stefan. He must have felt her stare because he said, "We already said what had to be said, Care. You've got a life to live. Go do it."

She dashed out, unable to speak.

Tyler walked over to Elena and touched his forehead to hers. They stayed in that pose for a moment before she whispered, "When you can talk to him again, tell him I loved him. Loved him for what he was, not what I thought he could be."

She felt his nod and then there was a cold, sharp breeze, and he was gone.

Elena stood for a moment and then walked slowly around to confront Stefan. They looked at each other for a moment before she half smiled. "Oh, Stefan." She shook her head ruefully. "Didn't we go through this for Jenna. You're always willing to sacrifice for me."

She paused and then said, "I have so many things I want to say."

He opened his mouth, but she stopped him with a finger on his lips. "I loved you both. I never wanted either one of you to pay for what I did, but if it had to be one of you I'm glad you're here with me at the end."

She shrugged helplessly. "I'm not sure I'm saying this right. I don't want you to die, but this all started with the two of us; just seems right that we should end it together."

Stefan smiled and said, "It's okay Elena. From the moment I met you . . got to know you . . this is how I planned to end it. To go when you went. I thought you would die of old age but . . "

Now her eyes filled and she said again, "Oh, Stefan."

He shook his head at her. "Don't. It's more than time for me to go. And I feel the way you do. So many innocent lives I've taken. I see them all. I hear their pleas to live. Especially the children. The innocent children in that village. It's time I paid. I'm tired of living with the guilt."

He stopped for a moment. "This way my brother gets to start a new life and . . and . .and maybe not right away, but eventually I think I'll see my mother and father again. And Lexi. And everyone else that's been important in my life."

Elena's eyes lit up with hope. "Mom . . Dad . . Jenna . . . . Jeremy."

For a moment she was radiant and then she trembled. "I don't mind going. I just want it to be quick."

He responded, "I have a plan."

She gave a strangled little laugh. "Oh my God! Not a Salvatore plan."

That forced a chuckle out of him. "Not very comforting I suppose. But I think it will work."

He walked over and got two stakes he dropped when he snapped his brother's neck. He put one in Elena's right hand. "We dash over, and we attack. We stick people in the gut, as many as we can. Not to kill but to cause chaos. They're not people now. They're a mob. A modern day lynch party. They'll go crazy thinking that we're defiant, not sorry. Someone will lose it and give us the death blow."

She looked hopeful. "This just might work."

He nodded and gestured for her to go first.

When they were outside he held out his left hand and she clasped it. "Together," he said calmly. "Together we pay our debt and go on to forgiveness.

"Together," she repeated.

Their eyes met and with a sharp whoosh they raced to meet their fate.

~ X ~

Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters. And Righteousness Like an Everlasting Stream.

~ X ~

Let the Flames Roll Forth Because the Waters Will Quench Them.

~ X ~

Written in protest for all faceless, nameless people who die to fulfill an agenda they never knew existed.

~ FIN ~