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The next morning, when Damon has to leave.

One look at Damon the next morning and Elena knew he hadn't slept at all.

She wasn't sure how to feel. She was angry with him, for leaving her when they were finally happy, but she felt guilty.

He had put his life on the line for years, serving, avoiding being home, near her.

But now that they were finally together, he was leaving again. And he wouldn't even tell her why.

She didn't say anything to him as she made breakfast, him coming down from the shower, looking so good that she couldn't even look at him, and they continued to eat in silence. It wasn't until she moved to the sink with the dishes that Damon broke the silence.

"I'm sorry, Elena."

"I don't want to talk about it, Damon," she told him.

"I think we need to," He insisted.

"Why?" she asked, "It's not like it's going to make a difference."

"Elena-" he sighed.

A knock on the door interrupted them. She exhaled as Damon froze.

He went to the door as she finished the dishes. He seemed skeptical as he stared out the peek hole, then sighed, a slight smile on his lips.

Despite her aggravation, Elena was intrigued.

"Tell your state that winter's still a month away," a voice grilled.

"Yeah, sorry man, storm blew in yesterday, must have frozen over night," Damon answered, moving out of the way for the man.

Elena took in the man, who was now greeting Damon like a brother.

"Good to see you," Damon nodded, then turned to Elena, "Hey, babe, this is Alaric Saltzman. Ric, this is her."

The man smiled at her, "Elena. I've heard a lot about you."

She blinked at him, then looked at Damon, "Yeah...I uh, I've heard of you too."

Alaric shook her hand, then turned to Damon, "You ready?"

Damon nodded, "Yeah, just one sec.

He turned to Elena then, "Elena-"

"Just go," she cut him off.

"I don't want to go like this," he argued.

"Why not?" she raised a brow, "Nothing I say is gonna change your mind anyway."

The coldness in her voice wasn't missed by their guest.

"You made her sound a little more caring," Ric shot.

Elena glared up at him. Whatever the situation, this man was probably the one who convinced Damon to leave.
"And he made you sound a little more compassionate," she furrowed her brows, "Guess he lied to us both, but don't pretend like you know a damn thing about me."

Damon placed a hand on her shoulder, but Ric smirked, "Feisty one. No wonder you're so into her."

"Not now, Ric," Damon shot, and Elena rolled her eyes.

"No, Ric, please," she taunted, "Because if he was so into me, he'd consider sticking around!"

"Despite the risk to his own neck?" Alaric asked, "Thought you two were a thing now? Damn Damon, you've got her wishing you into your grave already?"

Elena blinked, "What are you talking about?"

"Damn it, Ric," Damon groaned.

"You didn't tell her?" Ric seemed incredulous.

Damon turned to him, "You're the one who told me that the less involved, the better."

"Which is true, but I never expected you to listen to me. Besides, I doubt it will hurt to tell her the situation."

"Drop it," Damon snapped.

"What is he talking about? What situation, Damon?" Elena grabbed his arm.

"It's nothing," Damon assured her, but Ric shook his head.

"Damon, we don't have a lot of time, but Elena's all you ever talked about. Don't fuck this up trying to play hero. I'd advise against ruining her life, but don't you think she deserves to know why?"

"Ruining my life? What in the hell is going on? Damon?" Elena stared at him.

Finally, he sighed, "Okay, fine...the short version is that there's a guy we knew back over seas, kinda pissed him off."

"Kind of?" Ric muttered, and Damon shot him a look.

"Anyway, now he's in America, on the down low, with plenty of reason to come after me, and maybe Ric. So we're going away for a while."

"You couldn't just tell me that?" She asked, her eyes widening.

"I didn't want to put you in the middle of it. Besides, if I had, I would have ended up begging you to come with me...but you deserved better than a life of hiding...and I just can't bring myself to be selfish with you, Elena," Damon admitted.

She shook her head.

"Damn you," she swallowed, throwing her arms around him.

Damon wrapped his arms around her, "I'm sorry, baby...I just want you safe."

"And I want to stay with you," Elena argued.

Damon let her go, "You can't...at least not right now."

"You can let me come with you," she pleaded.

"No, Elena, I'm sorry. You don't understand how dangerous this guy is."

"But we-"

"No."

Damon let out a breath, before grabbing her face, "I hate having to leave you. I'd give anything to stay...but as bad as I want this, I can't have it."

Elena blinked as she saw the tears in his eyes, and knew he was serious. There was no way he was going to drag her out of her life into his, no matter how much he wanted to. Because it wasn't in her best interest.

She felt the tears slip, and shook her head, "Then tell me how you look at the person you love and let them walk away?"

Damon closed his eyes, pulling her into him so that their bodies were flush against each other, "I'm so sorry, baby...but that's why I needed you to just let go."

"You know I can't, Damon. I love you."

Tears were in his own eyes now, "I love you too...and I always will, but I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you. I know it's hard, baby...but, you're gonna have to go on without me."

She stared at him, "This doesn't have to be over, Damon. I'll wait for you. We can-"

"No," Damon hung his head, "You're going to go on with your life, and you're going to be happy, and safe."

"But-"

"Elena, please," Damon begged, "I need you to be okay. I need to know that your going to be okay."

Elena swallowed, and noticed Alaric staring at them, then checking his watch.

Each second she delayed them was putting Damon in more and more danger.

He needed closure.

The tears were unstoppable now, but she knew she had to be fair to him.

"I'm going to miss you."

Damon pulled her in, kissing her hard, "And I'll miss you."

She nodded, "Be safe...I'll be okay."

Damon sighed, "I have to walk out that door, and I don't even want to move from this spot."

"And I don't want you to," she admitted, "But you have to...So go."

Damon nodded, glancing back at Ric.

"She's right man, we need to go."

Damon turned back to her.

She nodded at him and his brows furrowed, "I love you."

"And I love you."

He kissed her, then pulled back and held her gaze.

His stare was heated, then he turned away, grabbed the bag he'd brought downstairs, and walked past Alaric, out the door.

Alaric watched his friend stalk out of the house, toward the black sedan he'd brought. When he heard a gasp of breath, he turned, and saw Elena breaking into sobs. The sentiment inside him cracked, and he found himself walking over to her.

She started shaking her head, her hand over her mouth, so Ric put his hands on her arms.

"Elena," he got the brunette's attention, "I'm going to protect him...I swear."

She took a breath, then nodded, "I know."

She forced back the tears, "Just...make sure he's okay."

"I owe Damon my life, time and time again, Elena. I'll take care of him."

She looked up through her lashes, "Thank you."

He nodded, knowing that they really needed to leave.

"I'm sorry," he told her before walking out the door.

His chest constricted for his friend. For years, Damon had talked non-stop about the girl, and she was everything he'd described. Kind, beautiful, fiery. Exactly the kind of girl Damon needed. And she loved the guy, Ric would give her that. Which made this whole thing suck all the more.

He reached the car, getting in the driver's seat.

"She okay?" Damon asked, not bothering to turn from the window.

Ric sighed, "She's pretty upset. She loves you, Damon. But, she'll be alright."

Damon nodded, "Then let's go."

Alaric put the car in gear, knowing better than to say anything else.

So sad writing this chapter!

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