Timeless.
Chapter Ten.
Disclaimer: I don't own TVD.

Elena rushed through the door, a dull aching in her chest as she followed after Klaus, hot on his heels. He was still carrying Caroline, holding her tight as her head snuggled into his chest. Klaus wandered into the foyer and into his large home, knowing that he needed to lie her down. Damon closed the door behind them all and glanced around, listening for any sign of movement.

"Wait a minute," he whispered and instantly, Elena and Klaus froze. They all listened carefully, waiting for a creak of the floorboards or the sound of footsteps. Nothing came, thankfully. They all knew they wouldn't have a lot of time. Even though it was pitch black outside, the deputies would soon figure out that they were gone and they would search for them. "I think we're alone. I'm going to check things out."

"Good," said Elena, watching him wander off up the staircase. Elena watched his go for a moment before she scooted past Klaus and headed for the living room. When she walked inside, she glanced down at the couch in the middle of the room, settled on top of a fluffy rug. She wandered across the room to the couch and propped up two of the cushions against the arm. She motioned to Klaus who was standing in the doorway, sneaking a glance at the blonde woman in his arms.

"Put her down here," said Elena and he nodded, walking into the room, his shoes scrapping off the wooden floorboards. It was clear to see that the ordeal had taken it's toll on each of them. Even though Elena's chest had healed up, the pain was still there and would be for some time yet. Klaus was physically exhausted, which was no surprise considering how many times he had thrown himself at the vervain-soaked bars. Damon was emotionally drained, something that could be easily fixed but Caroline, she had been through so much and it would take more than just a nap on the couch to make her feel normal again. She would heal up, of corse, she was a vampire after all but it would take a little while with some rest. The only problem was, they didn't have the time for her to rest. He carried his girl across to the couch and placed her down gently, her head resting against the pillows. The blonde groaned and her eyes fluttered open, landing on Elena who was knelt down by the side of the couch. She glanced around, her eyes searching for Klaus but he had vanished.

"Elena?"

"Are you okay?" asked Elena, a worried look on her face. Caroline had taken a lot of damage, far more than Klaus who healed at a faster rate due to his werewolf genes. She had taken a beating and Elena realized how close she had come to losing her. She could never let that happen again. A life without Caroline just didn't seem possible. She was her best friend, her sister and she didn't want to lose her, she couldn't.

"I think so," mumbled Caroline, not even attempting to sit up. She lay completely still, almost too frightened to move. "My insides are still burning. Where's Klaus?"

Elena glanced around, realizing that Klaus was in fact gone. She scrunched up her nose but she let out a sigh of relief when he reappeared in the doorway.

"Where did you go?" she asked him. He held up a blood bag with a smile.

"She needs to drink. We don't have a lot of time to move." said Klaus as he walked towards them. He crouched down and handed the blood bag to Elena, who popped the cap expertly.

Elena watched as Klaus helped Caroline to sit up on the couch. She had to admit, it was obvious that Klaus liked Caroline, he cared for her deeply. He must care about her, he wouldn't have put himself in danger to save her if he didn't care about her. She worried for her, since their track record with men wasn't the best. She didn't want her getting hurt again, but Klaus was good for her. Caroline let out several groans of pain, as she adjusted herself, managing to scoot backwards so she was settled.

Elena's eyes were drawn to the blood bag. After her little incident, she was feeling rather hungry herself and it took all of her willpower to hand it over. However, she knew Caroline needed it more than she did. She jumped when she heard Damon's voice behind her.

"I got you one,"

Elena turned around to see him holding out a blood bag with a smile on his face. Elena's lips curved upwards and she gladly accepted it, popping the cap. She began to drink, slowly at first, savouring the iron taste on her tongue before it dripped down her throat. She gulped down the metallic liquid until there was nothing left. She scrunched up the bag in her fist, draining any last bit of liquid. Once she was satisfied, she glanced back at Damon.

"Thank you," Elena smiled at him again and he nodded at her in response.

"You have to keep your strength up too," he said to her. "That bullet could have killed you."

"I know," she said. "But you were there to save me."

Damon smirked at her. "I guess I was."

Elena laughed lightly before turning her attention back on Caroline, who had drained her own blood bag. The colour was beginning to return to her cheeks and she looked perkier already.

"Care, can I get you anything?" asked the brunette.

Caroline nodded. "Would you mind getting me some water?"

"Of corse not," smiled Elena, placing a comforting hand on her best friend's arm. "You rest up."

Elena stood up and wandered towards the door, not missing the fact that Damon was following behind her. She glanced left and right before spotting the vast kitchen on the opposite side of the entrance hall. She wandered across and into the large room, not at all surprised by what she found. The kitchen was huge and filled with every kind of electrical gadget imaginable. There were solid dark wooden cabinets built against the walls and a rounded kitchen island with a sink in the middle. She spotted a glass cabinet with glasses and she immediately walked over to grab one. Then, she turned to the sink, running the cold tap for a moment. She heard footsteps and looking up, she noticed Damon leaning against the door frame.

"Hi," she said to him with a small smile.

"Are you okay?" he asked her and she nodded slowly.

Elena filled the glass with cold water and shut off the tap. "I think so. I don't feel sore."

"Good."

"Is there something you needed, Damon?" she asked him with a slight tilt of her head. She didn't know where she stood with him and she was scared that he would go back to hating her, even after all they had been through over the last twenty-four hours.

"No," Damon admitted. "I just came to make sure you were really okay."

"I'm fine thanks to you."

"Any time, Elena." He smirked at her. "You should probably get that back to Caroline. I expect we'll be leaving soon."

"Yeah," Elena nodded her head and she began to walk past him, glass in hand. She had just reached the door when she felt him grab her by the arm.

"Elena.." she heard him say and she turned her head to look at him.

"Yes?" she asked him, looking into his eyes.

Damon was looking back at her with such fire, it scared her a little. She had never seen such emotion in his eyes and it was a shock. He continued to stare down at her, blue eyes boring into her brown pool. In an instant, he was on her. He moved like lightening, cupping her cheeks in his cold hands. Elena let out a gasp, almost dropping the glass in her hands as he pressed his lips firmly against her, almost testing, waiting for her reaction. She froze for a moment, letting everything sink in. Once she realized what was happening, she attacked him with her mouth, letting her free hand snake up and around his neck to pull him closer to her. She let out a gasp, trying to claw back the breath that had been knocked out of her. The pressure of his lips on hers was perfect and she couldn't think of much else. Her mind was spinning, trying to come to terms with the fact that he was kissing her. Him. Damon Salvatore. In her time as a vampire, she had kissed many men, mostly as a build up to having a snack, but this, this was different. This kiss was pure but with raw passion burning in the background. This kiss was the first kiss she'd had in a very long time that had left her wanting more, wanting him. Shaking her head, she pulled away from him, her mouth falling open slightly. Staring at him, she couldn't help but want to fall back into his embrace. His chest was moving rapidly, not taking his eyes from hers. This was just to much, she couldn't do this. She couldn't let herself fall again, not after last time. No, she had all she needed. She had Caroline and that was it. She was perfectly fine. Yet, when she stared into his eyes, she found it very hard to convince herself that was what she wanted. She let out a gulp and raised the glass of water.

"I need to- uhm, need to take this Caroline.." she mumbled, completely breathless.

"Elena-"

"No.." She almost whispered and then she was gone. Shooting off at lightning speed, she stumbled to a stop back in the living room, handing the glass of water to Caroline.

Caroline looked at her as she took the glass from her best friend, immediately spotting her blushed cheeks. She let her lips curve up into a cheeky smirk. "You took your time."

"I was looking for a glass," replied Elena, giving her a death glare.

Caroline shrugged, still smirking. "If you say so."

Klaus turned to look at Elena just as Damon appeared back in the room.

"Do you have anything you need to take with you, Elena? If you do, now is your only chance to get it. We need to move quickly," Klaus asked her and Elena shook her head from side to side.

"I do," said Damon from behind her and instantly, she felt the blush rise in her cheeks once again. "Elena, could you come upstairs and help me please?"

Screwing her eyes shut for a second, she turned around to look at him, spotting him standing next the doorway.

"I-"

"It will only take a minute," he said in a soft voice that if she didn't know any better, she would say it wasn't him. His eyes were wide and bright as he looked at her and small smile appearing on his face.

"Okay." agreed Elena and with a long whoosh, she was gone, running up the stairs at high speed.

Damon rummaged through one of his drawers as Elena stood by the door, resting her body against the frame. So far, she wasn't exactly being much help, although it wasn't like she knew what he was looking for. She could hear something tinkling against the wood and a second later, Damon pulled out a beautiful gold necklace chain with a stunning ring looped inside.

"This was my mother's." he said out of the blue, making Elena stand up straighter. He turned to look at her and he began to walk towards her, still holding onto the jewelry in his hand. "This is all I have left of her, her engagement ring and the golden chain she was given by her parents."

"The ring is beautiful," was all Elena said, still trying to avoid talking to him, even though her stomach would jolt every time he spoke to her. Her statement was true though, the ring was beautiful. Solid gold with a diamond shaped middle, a ring of diamonds cornering three gleaming sapphires. It was stunning and Elena could admit that much, even if she wasn't a jewelry person.

"She died in 1850 from consumption. I was nine." he said, stepping ever close to Elena. "I'm telling you this, Elena, because this is something I've never told anyone before, not even Klaus. I want you to know that I trust you enough to talk about this with you, the same way you did with me."

"Damon-" Elena began but he shook his head and cut her off.

"I had to stand and watch her as she died, wasting away in front of me. I was nine years old and I had to watch my mother die. My father was drunk and wouldn't sit with her and I didn't want her to be alone when she.. she died."

As much as he tried to hide it, Elena heard the slight waver in his voice and immediately, she wanted him to stop. Seeing him upset, it pained her.

"Damon, you don't have to tell me this." said Elena.

Damon shook his head once more, took in a deep breath and continued on. "She was skin and bones by the time the disease took it's hold on her and she was bed ridden for weeks. I would go in and talk to her daily and some days, she would talk back, others she was just too weak and needed to rest."

He stopped again, allowing his head to drop towards the floor and Elena immediately pushed herself from the door frame to meet him, placing a gentle hand on his arm, her brown eyes large and doe-like.

"Damon, that's enough." She squeezed his arm gently and he seemed to snap out of the trance he was in, thinking of the past. "You don't have to prove anything to me!"

He moved his eyes up to look into hers and it was at that moment that she realized how close they were once again. She was just about to step away when he seized her waist, pulling her towards him. His lips were on hers in a second, but unlike the first kiss, this one was ferocious, full of pure want and need. Their lips crashed together and Elena felt herself melt into his arms, her eyes fluttering closed. She forgot all about her earlier thoughts, pushing them to the back of her mind. What mattered was the right here and now. He swept his tongue along her bottom lips and she began to open her mouth, allowing him enough room for him to slip his tongue inside. Within moments, their tongues were pressed against each other in an almost vicious manor, each one fighting for the upper hand. Damon reached down, locking his hands underneath her thighs, picking her up with such speed, it made her dizzy. Their lips remained attached as he placed her down on the desk in his room, allowing the necklace to slip off his wrist where it had managed to stay. They were touching each other with a passionate fire, even Elena couldn't believe how she was feeling. One of his hands was tangled in her brown locks while the other was running up and down her side, feeling every curve. She grabbed his white shirt in her fist, pulling him closer to her so that he was practically on top of her. They stayed like that for a few moments longer, completely lost in each other and his lips drifted down from her lips to her neck, kissing and sucking in tiny little motions, making Elena crave more. Elena's eyes sudden shot open, remembering what kind of situation they were in. They were in a hurry and as much as she wanted this to continue, it couldn't.

"Damon.." she moaned between breaths as his tongue hit a particularly sensitive spot on her neck. "Damon, we have to stop."

Damon began to pant, removing his lips from her neck to look up into her eyes. "But we're having so much fun, sweetheart."

She let out a laugh as he winked at her, but he knew she was right. He looked up into her eyes once more before placing several more small kisses on her lips.

"Stay with me?" he asked between kisses, still trying to catch his breath. Elena's eyes widened at this statement and he immediately froze, knowing that he had said the wrong thing. Elena was not a trusting person and moving to fast could scare her off. "Maybe not forever, but for now.."

The brunette nodded her head before kissing him back eagerly. When she pulled away, she gave him a smile. "Deal."

"Where are they?" Klaus was stuffing money from his safe into a large bag and any other important family heirlooms he kept hidden in there were put in the bag too.

Caroline simply smirked. "Isn't it obvious?"

Klaus stopped what he was doing and looked over at her. "Love, I think you've had one to many bumps on the head."

"I'm telling you," said Caroline. "Damon and Elena like each other."

Klaus rolled his eyes, not believing her in the slightest. "Well, what ever they are up to, they need to hurry it up. We have to leave now."

Zipping up the bag, he let out a sigh of relief when Elena and Damon wandered into the room, Damon carrying a bag of his own.

"Finally!" Klaus said, looking back and forth from Damon to Elena.

Elena blushed a bright shade of red, stealing a glance at Caroline on the couch, who was still wearing the same smirk she had been earlier.

"Elena," the blonde called out, motioning her best friend towards her.

Elena wandered away from Damon and crouched down beside Caroline.

"What is it, Care?" asked Elena.

Taking a deep breath, Caroline reached out and took Elena's hand. Looking down at her hand, Elena immediately knew that her best friend was going to drop a bombshell. The look on her face said it all.

"Lena, I'm going to stay with Klaus." Caroline blurted out, instantly reeling back from the brunette, looking like she was scared she might explode. To her surprise, Elena stayed silent for a few moments.

"I figured as much." replied Elena before she glanced over her shoulder at Damon. "Caroline, I love you and I want you to be happy. If that is with Klaus then I won't stand in your way. You deserve happiness, Care."

"No Elena, you misunderstand." said Klaus, placing his large bag down beside her. He held out both of his hands for Caroline to take and he helped her to her feet. She stumbled a little but she managed to stay upright, looking stronger than she had been. "We have been talking and we want you to come with us, both of you."

Klaus turned to face Damon with a smile.

"Klaus-"

"Damon, we might not be related by blood but you're still my brother. My life wouldn't feel right without you in it." said Klaus, which made Damon smile.

"Please, Elena," said Caroline. "Please, come with us."

Elena was quiet for a few moments, seemingly weighing up her pros and cons. "Where are you going?"

"Italy." answered Caroline.

"Italy?" asked Elena.

"Italy." Caroline confirmed with a laugh. "Come on, Elena! You've always wanted to see Italy!"

Elena let out a huff before turning back to Damon. She gave him a smirk and he cocked his head slightly to the side.

"I'll go if you go?" Elena said, the smirk growing on her face. Damon let out a laugh and he nodded his head.

"Italy it is, sweetheart." said Damon, winking at her.

Caroline let out a squeal of delight and she pulled Elena into a tight hug. Over Elena's shoulder, she looked Klaus dead in the eye, smirked and mouthed. 'I told you so!'

Klaus chuckled lightly, shaking his head. He picked up his large bag just as Elena and Caroline pulled apart.

"So," said Caroline, wandering over to her boyfriend. "What's in Italy?"

"Not a what, love, it's a who." answered Klaus. He pecked her lightly on the lips. "I think it's time for you to meet my little sister, Rebekah."

Fin.

Well, here it is. The end of Timeless. I have been thinking about doing a sequel of when they get to Italy and involve Rebekah, since she is one of my favourite characters but I'm not sure. What do you guys think? Would you read a Timeless sequel?
This last chapter is not my best work so I apologize for that! Also, I still couldn't find a beta so this entire story was unbeta'd! Oops!
Please review and let me know your thoughts!
-Dreamer