Disclaimer: I don't own VD neither the books or the TV version. I don't gain any profits for it. This writing is just for fun. The amazing characters are from L.J. Smith and CW.

A/N: This story is set after Shadow Souls and is pretty much AU. Some characters can be a little OC.

Bookerz and Lily, thank you so much! XOXO

I hope you will like this. Thanks again for everyone that fav, alerted, read and reviewed my stories. You guys are amazing! :)


Me?... Free

Damon POV

I slowly began to open my eyes. My body hurts; well let's say it right: my version of whatever Bonnie spell did is bruised all over and it hurts like hell. I began to move my arms and legs trying to sit up. But I was too hurt and tired so I stopped trying to move anything. I closed my eyes again, maybe if I disconnected myself from this madness I could wake up for real.

This spell thing was a stupid move and the worst thing was that Bonnie did try to warn me that anything could happen and go wrong. I suddenly opened my eyes and sat up. I frantically began to look up for Bonnie. Where is she? I lost her. Come on, not again!

At least this time I'm not at the center of the tornado thing. I decided to pay attention to my surroundings. I'm not at a really light up area of my mind; it's rather dark, cold and creepy. I begin to wonder if this mystery movie scenario means something when I heard some movement.

I stood up and began to walk towards the noise. I had to blink twice because I didn't believe what I was watching. It was a little boy that looks a lot like me when I was his age. He has terror reflected in his eyes. I decided to talk to him. He was actually afraid and I wanted to know who he was and where we were.

"Hi, I'm Damon."

"I'm so sorry." After that phrase the boy began to cry with all his heart.

"Please don't cry. Why are you crying?"

He stammered a little but eventually he did say: "I just lost it"

"What do you lose?"

"The secrets"

"What secrets?"

The little boy looked at me surprised at my question. He adventures himself a little and walks some paces towards me.

"You say I have to ward the secrets or you will hurt me. You chained me to your secrets; a big black ball."

I just looked at the boy analyzing his words. Maybe I'm in front of what used to be the switch of my feelings and emotions. I could be wrong about this; but since I'm human now I can't turn off anything anymore. Nah! I just kidding myself. He told me I gave him my secrets.

"Can you tell me your name little boy?"

He nodded and said: "Damon"

I gasped; he is me. Elena wasn't lying back then in the Dark Dimension. She kept saying something about a little boy inside me.

"Did I really hurt you before?"

"Yes"

"I'm the only one that came to visit you?"

"No, my friend the blond girl came before."

"Did she say something to you?"

"That she will come back and set me free from the chains."

"You don't have chains anymore."

"She will come. I have to say thank you to my friend."

I gave a tired sigh, this journey is getting complicated. Then it occurred to me that maybe the boyish version of me that knows my secrets should know something about the memories or the kitsunes.

"Damon"

"Yes"

"Can you help me with something?"

He kept silent thinking for a little bit what to do. He then nodded. I took that as my answer.

"I need to remember certain things that I forgot. Do you know how I can do it?"

"No"

"No, what?" I said this with desperation in my tone. The little Damon flinched a little.

"I'm sorry."

"I don't know, maybe you should ask to the doggie with a lot of tails"

I gasped; this is no way out. Even in my freaking mind I have to fight Shinichi.

"Damon, I want to talk to the doggie with a lot of tails. Can you say where he is?"

"No, he comes when he wants to come."

"Does he treat you well?"

"Sometimes, he tells me that soon I will be his."

I felt anger. I was really angry. This damn fox didn't uphold his part of our deal. Yes he gave me the mental map for the keys but he kept stealing memories since the moment I met him. Know I discovered that his plan is to take them all. He is just wicked. He is doing it just for fun. I'm not a vampire anymore; I don't have any supernatural powers. That has to be his reason. Just for fun. The irony of the situation is that I understand his actions.

I felt some tugging at my leg. I looked down at the little boy. I guess I spaced out a little bit too long.

"Damon, the doggie can hurt you."

"No, my friend will come back and protect me."

"Damon, if the doggie comes back just run really hard and hide. Do you understand me?"

"Yes"

"Damon, do you know where is my redhead friend is?"

"Yes, the doggie took her."

"Where?" I asked alarmed. The little boy just shrugged at my question. Damon think about it. This is your freaking mind. Put all your strength to find her. Think of her. I was beginning to feel her presence again when the boy tugged me again.

"I remember"

"What?"

"I saw another doggie?"

"What?"

"He was a good doggie. He has a lot of tails too. But he is white; the bad doggie is not white. He told me to wait for the man with my name and tell the man his secret."

"Well I have your name too."

"I know"

"What did he tell you?"

"Inari"

"Thank you Damon. Remember; run and hide. We will come back, your friend, me or my redhead friend. Her name is Bonnie"

He nodded and ran. He really followed my instructions. Now I'm worried for my inner self. Gosh How I wish to be a vampire again! I don't understand what Inari means; I shrugged and began to concentrate again looking for Bonnie's presence.


Elena POV

I kept talking, retelling to Stefan what happened between Damon and me in our journey to the Dark Dimension. I repeated to him again and again, that the whole purpose was to save and rescue him. I told him everything; I didn't leave out anything. I told him the details I left out the first time I told him how we saved him.

This time I told him how Damon fed from me and how we connected each time he fed from me. I told him about the little boy inside Damon. The last part I told him about was the kiss Damon and I shared at the Motel. How we meshed together, how I felt that I lost myself with him. I felt Damon's love toward me. After that I just shut up, I kept silent.

The worst thing was that Stefan kept looking outside through the window. I couldn't see any of his reactions toward my words. I couldn't read him. I didn't know if he is sad or angry. If he still loves me or hates me.

After some seconds that seemed hours he turned to look at me. I gasped. I couldn't stop my reaction. He was watching me with a cold look in his eyes. He never, ever directed at me a glare like that. He began to walk towards me in a very slowly and predatory way. I felt how my fear began to rise inside me. I couldn't recognize the Stefan that I loved in the creature standing before me.

He bent and lowered himself enough, so his head was really near my ear. I couldn't stop a shiver through my body. He chuckled and whispered:

"You are like Katherine."

"Stefan... I..."

"Silence, now is my turn to talk and yours to hear. Do you understand Elena?"

I was petrified, I just nodded. For some seconds I thought I was in front of Damon and not Stefan.

He returned to the window, this time he never stop staring at me.

"You are like Katherine, even if you deny it. At least she played with us with full knowledge of what she was doing to us. But you, with your emotions and sincere feelings did the same. You made us love you. We didn't stand a chance."

"Stefan"

"I said shut up. Sometime I felt that you forgot that I'm not human. I am a monster Elena. I am a vampire. I choose animal blood, but the instincts are the same. I am really pissed off now and I really want to hurt you. So just keep silent."

I kept staring at him. Where is the man that I love? This can't be happening. God, help me. I can't lose him.

"Elena, I already told you I won't choose between you and my brother. I made that mistake long time ago and you know the consequences of that decision. I love you wholeheartedly. I know if I could have a beating heart and a soul, they would be yours. I will love you until my final day. Don't ever doubt that. I am thankful for all the effort, suffering and trouble you, Damon and the rest had to endure to rescue me."

He chuckled again, this time he sounded defeated. My heart squirmed with so much pain.

"You are free."

"NO!"

"Silence. You are free to choose. I went to the Dark Dimension with the belief of finding a solution for us. But you make me realize I took that decision for you and not for me. I don't want and I won't lose myself again for someone that I love. When I love, I love one hundred percent, I'm entirely for that person and I expect and demand the same kind of love no less."

Now I was crying; I couldn't stop my tears. They kept falling, now Stefan was a blur in front of me.

"Elena you are not sure what do you want. I'm not sure If I want the same things as before this madness and I know that even Damon is not sure of this situation. So I let you be free. This time I won't crumble. Prison changes the character of any one, including me. I will continue to fight for this town, for you, my brother, my friends and for me. When you are ready we will talk again. "

Then I felt Stefan hands lifting up my face. I can't see anything clearly because of my tears. He kissed me. The next thing that I heard was the sound of the door closing. I was alone in our room. How did I do this? How had I hurt and harmed the most important person to me?

Now I understand when someone said that we don't know what we have until we lost it. All his words hurt me, but I have to admit; some of them I deserved them. What can I do? What I should do? What do I really want to do?

I just kept crying. I needed to cry.


A/N: Well what do you think? Good or Bad? What do you think of Stefan? Did he did right or wrong? And Damon that talk with himself? A little bit crazy right? What do you think what will happen next?

Please leave me some feedback. You will make me extremely happy! :)