a/n: hey guys. I'm sorry I didn't get this up before Thursday. Things have been pretty nuts lately for me and there just wasn't time.

But it's here now. Enjoy!

HIS WAY TO HER

You know I'm gonna find a way to let you have your way with me

Elena let Damon lead her deeper into the woods, her clothes tight on her body and her shoes full of water. She kept her eyes on the leather of his jacket, not watching her feet, her mind racing Had she really just told him she loved him? A smile crept over her lips slowly as she realized she in fact had. This wasn't a dream, this wasn't imaginary. She'd really done it and at the moment she didn't care where he took her as long as it was somewhere she could get out of these soaked clothes and feel him against her. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice he'd stopped moving and she bumped into him. He looked back at her, that smirk on his lips; twisting dark thoughts into her mind. "Where are we?"

Damon hesitated, wanting to be honest but not wanting to ruin the mood. "This is the ruins of my family home." He stepped aside and she nodded. She remembered when Stefan had brought her here, but that had been in the middle of a sunny day.

Here, at night with the rain it looked darker, more intense and a bit threatening. Just like Damon. But she found herself wanting to crawl inside and hide there. Just like Damon. "What are we doing here?"

"Let's just say the Boarding House has been getting a little…crowded lately. Stefan's moods are a bit too much to handle. I've stayed here before, in the first few weeks I was in this town."

She frowned, remembering the first night they met. The real first time they met. How he'd been there, and then gone back into the trees. "Oh."

"Come with me." He held out his hand and she took it. She didn't care about the past anymore. All that mattered was right here, right now.

He helped her down the cracked steps and she pushed down any fear or resolve she had of going down there with him. She expected it to be dark and dirty, but it was the exact opposite. They went around a brick wall and she felt her breath leave her body. Damon had managed to get his large four poster bed down here, the dirt floor of the room was covered in candles. She couldn't believe how beautiful it was. "Wow."

He looked around, grimacing. "I'm sorry it's not perfect."

"It's beautiful." She turned to look at him, framing his face with her hands and sliding them down to his neck. "I don't need perfect. I just need you."

He grimaced, teasing her as he slowly trapped her in his arms, holding her tightly against him. "Is that to imply that I am not perfect?"

She moved to slap his chest, but he rushed her over to the bed and onto it. She laughed, sitting up to look at him, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't believe this was happening here, like this, tonight. And they hadn't even told Stefan yet. Then Damon gave her that look and all other thoughts disappeared from her mind. She didn't care about anything or anyone. She just wanted to be here, with him. And she wanted to be with him, right now. In every way possible. "Kiss me."

His cocky smirk turned into a grin and he towered over her, as if she was his prey. Only now, she was just as strong as he was. He complied with her order, his lips smooth against hers, but demanding. He wanted her, just as badly as she wanted him and the thought thrilled her. She'd never felt more loved, more wanted than in Damon's arms. She remembered back to the night where he had taken control of her, had given her the pleasure she'd been craving. The memory turned her on and he caught the flash of lust in her eyes. "What are you thinking about?"

"You."

"Tell me." He slipped his hands underneath her shirt but she only smiled and shook her head.

"I'd rather show you."

Her fingers tore at the buttons on his shirt, only to slowly smooth her hands over his bare chest. Her teeth nipped furiously at his lips when he stopped kissing her for a moment trying to undo her jeans. Damon felt his blood boil as he pulled her shirt over her head and tugged her jeans down to her ankles. She surprised him when she kneeled up on the bed to undo his belt and push his pants down to the floor. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to the bed, to her so she could feel their bare skin pressed against each other as they kissed. His hands smoothed down her sides and cupped her ass, lifting her off the mattress and laying her on her back.

She arched up against him, pressing her breasts against his chest and running her fingers through his hair. He leaned close, tasting her skin; giving her time to adjust to the fact that this was happening. Then she moaned, rubbing against him and he considered if it was himself that he was giving time to adjust. He knew that crossing this line; the last line they had left would change everything about them, about him. He wasn't sure he could come back from her walking away again after this. He was giving himself to her just as deeply as she was giving herself to him and as he looked into her darkening eyes, he prayed that she would take what was left of him and not crush it. "Don't be scared." She whispered.

He would have laughed if he hadn't actually been afraid. "Shouldn't it be me saying that to you?"

She shook her head, and smoothed his hair back from his forehead. "I'm not leaving you. It's you Damon. Forever."

"Forever is a very long time."

She knew he was giving her an out, but she wasn't going to take it. "Love me." She pleaded, moving beneath him. "Please."

He kissed her again; hard, almost desperately. The force held her against the pillow as if he was afraid she would disappear if he let her go. Then he slid into her slowly, carefully enjoying the sensation and the way her body shook as they became one. The first moan slipped from her lips, and he heard his name behind it. The sound took over his senses and he released all the anger and fear that had been driving him. He'd never felt so loved before, so incredible, so…at home. She kissed back, moved with him, against him, for him. She held him against her, tight inside her, leaving marks on his back and shoulders when he moved just a little bit faster and in just the right way.

Elena as a vampire was something he had seriously never thought would become reality. As the dark lines appeared beneath her eyes, she smiled and he held her tight. Her fangs slipped into place, along with his and he knelt close. Their kiss was different this time, and he not only tasted her but their blood mixed together. His brain swam and he knew she felt the connection as her eyes rolled back into her head. He watched her lick her lips and then lean up to his, licking them clean. She shivered, but he knew that she couldn't be cold. Then he noticed how white her knuckles had turned and leaned back to look at her.

"What is it?"

"I want…I want to…taste you." She seemed almost embarrassed, and even a little scared now. He shook his head, bringing her fist to his lips and kissing along her knuckles.

"Relax." He whispered and flattened her palm against his chest, sliding it up to his neck. He ran her fingertips over a vein in his throat. "Bite here."

She nodded, nervously leaning up and running her tongue over the spot. Then she sucked the skin between her teeth, slowly softening the area. All at once her bloodlust took over and she pierced his skin, moaning a different kind of pleasure as she drank him in. He cradled her head against his neck, ignoring his own cravings until she pulled back, licking her lips clean once more. "Your turn." She sighed and offered her wrist to him. All the while he was inside her, keeping them a unit. Keeping them together.

Damon couldn't believe what she was offering him, what she was giving them both. Being joined like this, like a man and a woman was incredible. But joining them as vampires was so much more. He glanced at her to make sure that she knew what she was saying and when she didn't hesitate or pull away he pressed one kiss to the inside of her wrist before biting into her skin. Her body exploded beneath him as a new wave of sensation flowed through her. She cried out, her free hand wrapping around his bicep to hold on as she felt the beginning of the end crash into her senses.

They came together a few moments later, calling the other's name with tangled tongues.

Elena walked into her home late the next morning with a big smile on her face. She closed the front door and leaned against it, listening as Damon drove away. Last night had been incredible, as had this morning. Both times this morning. She practically sang her way up the stairs and into her room, feeling pretty good about herself and the fact that she may have gotten away with sneaking in. Until she stepped into her bedroom and found Caroline sprawled across her bed and Katherine stepping out of the bathroom. "Well it's about time you're home." The blonde vampire said sitting up.

"I'm fine, thanks for asking." Elena didn't sound impressed to be cornered, but she didn't try to hide it.

Katherine sniffed the air, her lips curving into a dangerous smile. "Now that, is definitely sex in the air."

Elena shrugged, walked over to her closet and tugged her robe down from the door. "This time, you're right. I did spend the night with Damon."

Caroline glanced at the clock on the bedside table. "And the better part of the morning."

Katherine grabbed Caroline's elbow and tugged her up off the bed. "Give her some time to recover. We can interrogate her later."

"But-"

"You know what's like to be ravished by Damon." Katherine said with sharp eyes, tugging the blonde toward the door. "She needs a shower anyway."

The doppelgangers shared a look of understanding before the door closed behind them and Elena let out the breath she'd been holding. She had a few hours before Damon came back to collect her. How was she going to tell them their plan?

Damon pulled into the garage of the Boarding House and waited a few beats before stepping out of his car. This was not going to be pretty and he was pretty damn sure that Stefan wouldn't even believe him at first. If he had to tell him alone that is. Elena had begged him to let her do, but he wasn't sure he could wait. It wasn't just that he was happy she'd chosen him, that she agreed to his wild idea. It was also the simple fact that he didn't want his brother to suffer in limbo for any longer than he had to. Taking a deep breath he walked into the house, looking around for Stefan. When he discovered he was alone, he took it as a sign and went upstairs to begin packing.

"What do you mean you're leaving?" Caroline exclaimed, pacing back and forth in the kitchen as Elena sat at the island next to Katherine. "You're just up and going away? Mystic Falls is your home."

Elena sighed, her hands shaking so badly that she settled them on her knees in hopes that they would still. "I know, but there is nothing in this town but terror and death and heartbreak."

"There's us!" the blonde slammed her hand down on the countertop, her eyes glaring and on the verge of tears. "We're your family."

"Yes you are." Elena nodded and reached out for Caroline's hand, hurt when her friend pulled away. "I want a fresh start. I deserve a fresh start; and so does Damon."

Katherine, who had been silent through most of the argument finally decided to speak up. "I think it's a good idea." Her tone was even, quiet, reserved. It was as if she didn't entirely agree with the plan, but she wasn't about to hold them back either.

"Of course you do!" Caroline spat and waved her hand. "That's all you've ever done is run!"

"Hey!" Katherine glared. "We're not talking about me. And Elena is hardly running."

"Then take some time. Don't make this choice right now. What have you and Damon been together? Five minutes? Is that really enough time to decide that you want to go away with him?"

"Jeremy can have the house." Elena ran her fingers through her hair. "You guys can stay here as long as you want. It's not like I'm never coming back."

"What if something happens to you out there?" Caroline sounded like the worried mother and it almost made Elena smile.

"There is no less chance of my dying out there than in this town. Think back to the month that the Salvatore brothers got to this town. How many people have we lost since then? If anything, Damon and I leaving may protect everyone that's left. I have to at least try Care."

Katherine sighed, pushing back from the counter and sliding from the stool. She looked down at Elena. "You better get packing. Damon will be here soon."

Elena nodded, leaving the kitchen with one last glance at Caroline, her heart sinking when her friend didn't even look her way. She walked upstairs, her chest heavy and the levity of excitement of her and Damon's new start on the back burner. If it was this hard to tell them, she couldn't imagine how hard it would be to tell Stefan. Her heart leapt to her throat when she found him sitting next to her open suitcase on the bed. He had his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands. He didn't look up right away, but when he did she could tell that he'd been crying.

"How much did you hear?" she whispered, going straight to him and kneeling in front of him.

"Enough."

"Stefan, I'm…I'm so sorry."

"You don't have to apologize Elena. You made your choice." He tried to sound understanding, but she could hear the venom in his tone.

"I understand if you hate me."

He shook his head, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I could never hate you Elena. I love you. Maybe it's not the same love we used to share, maybe too many things have happened now for it to be ever be the same. All I was looking for was one more chance to prove to you that we could go back to the way things were. But we can't, and they can't. You fell in love with Damon because he was there when you needed him, and you still need him."

"I did love you Stefan. With my whole heart."

"I know." He cleared his throat and stood. There was more to say, but he couldn't bare it. "Be safe. Please."

She nodded, letting him wrap his arms around her. She did the same, knowing this would be goodbye. Would she ever see him again? "Goodbye Stefan."

He pressed his lips to her cheek, squeezed her hands and when she opened her eyes again he was gone. She took one long, shattering breath in through her mouth before she let the wave of tears fall. It wasn't like dying; letting him go but it was close. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, distracting her and she brushed her tears away, looking down at the screen.

I'll be there soon. Read the text message from Damon and she looked around the room, deciding what it was of her old life that she wanted to bring with her. How much of Mystic Falls did she want to remember when she started all over someplace new? Slowly she walked around, grabbing the essentials from the bathroom and packing them away in her suitcase. Then she pulled a good, unnecessary number of clothes from her closet and dresser, folding them tightly. Her journal and pen, along with her teddy got stuffed in the bottom. She grabbed a bottle of her mother's perfume from a shelf in the corner of her room and her father's favorite book.

Anything else she would need later she could send for, but at the moment that was all she needed. By the time she was done she heard the Camaro pull up outside her open window. The numb desperation and fear she'd felt since Stefan had disappeared faded away as she looked outside and spotted Damon getting out of the car. He looked up, their eyes connecting and she felt her smile spread over her face as he waved. His grin was addictive and she found herself craving the need to make him smile like that every day. She waved back before tucking back into her room and shutting the window. This was it, she was actually doing this. She was going to leave Mystic Falls behind her.

With resolve, she shut her suitcase and walked to the bedroom door. One last long look had her memorizing every single aspect before she closed the chapter on her old life.

Downstairs, Damon was standing in the living room talking calmly to Katherine in hushed tones. Elena knew she had the power to eavesdrop but she ignored the opportunity and looked out the open front door to where Caroline sat on the porch, hugging her knees and staring out into the street. Elena sighed, glancing at Damon before going out and joining her best friend. "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too." Caroline whispered, snaking her arm through Elena's and taking her hand. "I just, don't want to lose you."

"You won't lose me. Ever."

A small smile broke Caroline's grief stricken pout. "Will just have to be long distance best friends."

"Best friends forever." Elena smiled and opened her free hand, showing Caroline a pink beaded chain with a half a heart charm hanging from it. "Do you remember this?"

Caroline nodded, taking her keys from her pocket. She had the other half of the charm hanging from the ring. "Who knew that when we were six forever could have been a real possibility."

Elena nodded, looking out onto the street. Her entire life had been in this town, in this house. "I won't be gone forever. And Damon already said we would come back for Christmas."

"Christmas." Caroline nodded and took a deep breath. "I can deal with you being gone for four months."

Someone cleared their throat behind them and both turned to look at Damon and Katherine standing in the doorway. "Ready to go?" he asked carefully.

Elena nodded, standing up and slipping the necklace into her pocket. "I am."

Caroline pulled her into a big long hug, squeezing tightly. Elena squeezed back, just as hard before she felt Katherine's hand on her shoulder. "I'm not much for hugging or anything gooey of the sort but you're leaving and it's sad."

Elena laughed, sliding her arm around Katherine's waist and pulling her into the hug. Her family wasn't conventional and it wasn't normal but it was hers and she loved them. She looked up, chocking back tears when Damon's hand ran over her hair. "We should go." She whispered, smiling at Caroline.

She nodded in response, stepping back to stand with Katherine. "Call us when you get, wherever you're going."

Elena nodded, letting Damon take her hand. "I love you both."

"We love you too." Katherine said when Caroline couldn't speak.

Elena didn't take her eyes off the two women on her porch until they were too far down the street. Damon said nothing as he drove, giving her time. "Are you okay." He said finally, his throat tight.

"No." she shook her head, then reached over and slid her hand over his on gear shift. "But I will be."

"Did you say goodbye to Stefan?"

"No." Damon shook his head, almost sad. "It's not the first time though."

"We'll come back right?" she asked quietly, looking out at the street, the familiar houses rushing past her window.

"Right." Damon brought her hand to his lips, kissing it. She looked at him and smiled.

a/n: I apologize for taking so damn long to do this for you all. I had to wait two extra days to watch the season premier, and to say I was disappointed is an understatement. I knew we wouldn't get our Delena moments right away, but…ugh. Anyway, maybe that's why I made this ending so…sappy. So, gooey. I needed some kind of driving off into the sunset moment after the despair I felt watching Stefan give Elena her daylight ring.

Thank you all for coming on this journey with me. I do happy that you are pleased with the smut and the ending. It was a long time coming I know. Love you all.