A/N: Well, only one more chapter after this one. I really want to thank everyone for reading and offering reviews; your encouragement really pushed me forward!

Chapter 10: Choices

Elena awoke, feeling oddly calm and peaceful. She tried to remember how she had gotten here… she remembered the fight… the hybrids… and Klaus. Katherine killed Klaus! She shot halfway out of bed and began looking at her room with new eyes. It was filled with all the toys from her childhood; the Barbie house in the corner, the baby dolls on the floor. It was the way her room had looked as a child, and it was remarkably clean.

"What the…"

And then a movement on the bed beside her drew her attention.

"Damon!" She immediately threw her arms around his neck, relieved to see him in this crazy dream she'd found herself in.

"I didn't picture you as the baby doll type," he chuckled.

"What happened? I remember the fight, and then it felt like… felt like I was… dying." She nearly choked on the last word.

"You did."

"But why am I here," she asked, sitting up straighter to examine her room.

"Not sure, guess it's just some memory inside that pretty head of yours."

A thought occurred to her then, but she was almost too scared to ask it, fearing its answer as her body suddenly felt it was being torn in two. It wasn't a painful feeling, just uncomfortable… and a little scary. Damon seemed to already know her question, feeling her emotions before she made them known.

"No, the elixir isn't working."

Elena stomach filled with dread, but also with resignation. She'd known it was only a fifty-fifty chance. She swallowed the lump that had risen in her throat and asked the obvious question.

"Am I dying?"

"No, I'm not letting you," Damon exclaimed, a fierce smile spreading across his face.

"What do you mean?"

"Apparently, our connection is stronger than magic. I can't bear to let you die. I love you too much, Elena!"

"But how?"

"I'm not sure, I felt the same pain when I saw you collapse and I knew I could follow you… and bring you back. But only if you want me too."

As she stared into his sad eyes, she knew she had a choice, but this time, he wasn't making it for her. She could tell, even without using their connection just how much pain the thought of losing her was causing him and she wanted to leap up and promise him that she would never leave him.

But then, a familiar voice from behind had her stunned into silence.

"Elena."

"Mom?" Elena turned to see her mom standing just inside her room with tears in her eyes. Without a second thought, Elena launched herself off the bed and into her mother's arms.

"Its okay, honey," her mom assured her soothingly. A hand on her shoulder had her raising her head and looking directly into her father's eyes.

"Daddy." Her mom released her and she was immediately engulfed in her father's strong arms as he softly stroked her hair.

"I missed you so much," Elena sobbed.

"Oh, I know sweetie, but you've done so well," Miranda promised.

"But you have to make a choice, and it has to be for yourself," Grayson explained, finally releasing her to look her in the eyes.

"I…," but she didn't know what she wanted. Part of her wished for nothing more than to take her parents' hands and be with them forever. But another part of her – the part that was practically screaming – couldn't just leave Damon, or Jeremy, or any of her friends.

They needed her. And she needed them.

Tentatively, she turned her gaze from her parents to Damon, who stood back, his eyes intense as he watched her. She knew it was taking every ounce of self-control he possessed to remain silent and let her make this decision for herself. She reached back quickly to squeeze his hand and give him a small smile before turning back to her parents.

"I love you both so much… but I have to go back. I want to be there for Jeremy and my friends… and I want to be with Damon."

As the words left her mouth, she knew she was making the right decision. Her parents didn't raise her to simply give up on her life; they taught her to fight for it. And that was what she had to do now.

"You're and amazing woman, Elena," Grayson encouraged, pulling her into one more hug.

"You need to know that we love you, whether you stay human or become a vampire… we love you. Just don't ever forget who you are, Elena." Once Miranda had finished, she kissed her head softly and in seconds, they were gone.

"Are you sure," Damon asked, walking up and gently caressing Elena's cheek.

Instead of professing her love, she simply stretched up and kissed him with every ounce of passion inside her. The sensation of her body being pulled in separate directions ceased and she felt whole again.

Damon lifter her up and brought them back down on the bed, nestling Elena against his chest. She laid there, content to never move again as he stroked her hair.

"Enjoy this, cause when we wake up, you're in a load of trouble," he promised.

Elena just chuckled and snuggled against him.

~TVD~

Damon and Elena had been out a long time. Elijah had re-positioned them in the hopes of making them more comfortable, but it had been hours. The elixir should have worked by now. And he had no idea why Damon was so strongly affected.

He stood beside Klaus' burned body now, consoling a still frightened Rebekah.

"I'm so sorry. I should have helped. I just wanted it to work so bad; I wanted him back," she sobbed, turning her face into Elijah's jacket.

"I know."

Bonnie sat, leaning into Caroline, with a bandage on her head, never taking her eyes from Elena. She'd poured through every page of the grimoire looking for any way to help Elena and coming up empty. She no longer possessed the kind of magic she'd used to bring Jeremy back and after bringing down the barrier to release the other's from the house, she was left especially weary.

Caroline held her tightly, though she was just as scared and frantic as Bonnie for Elena to breathe. Matt was currently in a state of shock over the girl he would always love in some way and he sat on the couch, Tyler's hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

Jeremy was the hardest to watch. He never let go of Elena's hand or took his eyes from her face. He spoke to her in hushed tones, begging her to come back, to not leave him alone. She was all he had left and he couldn't lose her! The tears ran silently down his face as he held on to her, willing her eyes to open.

Stefan sat across from him, beside Damon. He'd known Elena could die and had taken every precaution he knew to give her a fighting chance, but Damon… he hadn't anticipated this. His emotions, the ones he thought he'd buried so deep, were now fighting their way back in as he watched his brother and the girl he still loved dying in front of him.

Alaric stood watching over them all. He knew that somehow, Elena had become central to everyone in the room; for so long, she was their purpose. What would they all do if she was really gone? He hated to admit it, but in his mind he was already searching for ways to put everything back together again, knowing everyone would be looking to him for answers.

"Uh, guys, I think Damon just moved," Stefan called, resulting in everyone rushing over to the unconscious couple; even Jackie rushed out of the bathroom where she'd been bandaging her arm.

As they watched, his arm twitched and then, slowly, his eyes eased open. Stefan held his breath, afraid that the smallest sound might reveal it to be a dream. Without focusing on the faces surrounding him, Damon reached over, feeling the ground until he came into contact with Elena's arm, and then continued down to her hand.

In response to his touch, Elena eyes shot open and she sucked in a deep long breath. In a second, Jeremy pulled her up into his arms in a fierce hug, but she never let go of Damon.

"I thought you were gone for good," Jeremy sobbed into her shoulder.

Elena cried with him and brought her free hand around his neck to hug him back. Soon they were bombarded with friends wrapping them in hugs and planting kisses on Elena's head.

"Damon," Stefan finally asked.

"Relax Stefan, you're not rid of me yet," Damon joked, but still gave his little brother a smirk. "I take it you're the one responsible for the elixir?"

"Sometimes you just can't fight your humanity. For a while, we thought it didn't work."

"It didn't," Elena responded, turning back to smile at Damon and give his hand another squeeze.

"But how…," Bonnie asked, staring from her best friend to Damon.

Elena answered, never taking her eyes from Damon's face. "Apparently, our connection is stronger than magic."

Damon finally sat up just to pull Elena in for a kiss, reveling in the feel of her soft lips. He was trying to be strong before, but he knew he never could have lived without this.

But then he felt her emotions change to guilt and her eyes shifted over to Stefan who sat watching. Damon felt his heart prepare to break, fearing who she would choose now that Stefan was free. Reluctantly, he let her hand slip from his, but couldn't resist kissing her one more time before standing and making his way to the kitchen.

"I'm guessing we need to talk," Stefan inquired, his eyes at odds with the nonchalant tone of his voice. Elena just nodded and let him help her up, noting that his touch didn't cause the butterflies in her stomach that it used to.

"Elena," Jeremy called, catching her shoulder. "Be quick."

She smiled at her brother and followed Stefan out the front door with Rebekah watching the whole way.

"I'm, uh… glad you're okay," Stefan started, voice still devoid of emotion.

"Stefan, I… Thanks for trying to save me."

"Elena, I know what you want to say… but I don't know if I'm ready to feel again, to let go of this freedom. There's a part of me that still loves you… that will always love you, but…" He didn't know how to finish. The vampire in him wanted nothing more than to drain her dry just for making him feel anything… but there was another part, a part that still prayed she'd take him back, even after all he'd done.

"Stefan, there's a part of me that still loves you too, and I'll do whatever I have to in order to bring your humanity back, but… I can't be with you Stefan. After all of this, I discovered something… something I think I knew all along. I love Damon."

Elena felt a warmth spread through her at the truth of those words, and it was a feeling that made her whole again, after all the loss she'd endured… Damon held her together.

"You two deserve each other," Stefan nodded, turning as if he was ready to bow out of their lives.

"Wait," Elena called, gripping his arm. "Damon needs you Stefan, and I need to see you whole again. Please, let us help you; don't leave!"

Stefan stared deep into her brown eyes, ready to tell her thanks, but no thanks, until he caught sight of the blond stepping cautiously out the door.

"Stefan," Rebekah whispered. "I want you to stay too, and I'll do whatever it takes. Please."

Something inside him lurched as he watched her, something fighting to break free. If he stayed, he'd have to let in more than just love and happiness. There would be pain, especially where Damon and Elena was involved. But would it be worth it?

"I'll try," he promised her, and Elena backed away as Rebekah ran into Stefan's arms.

~TVD~

"So, should I get packed for home, or are you planning to shoot me up with vervain again," Tyler asked as he approached his girlfriend.

"Tyler, I'm so sorry, but I had to. You were like, Klaus' little puppy or something, and he would have came to take you away, and I wouldn't have ever seen you again. I was saving your life, Tyler! And besides, if I hadn't you would have put up a fight to follow to Klaus, and let's be serious, I would have won, but I didn't want to hurt you and–"

But before she could continue her rant, Tyler cut her off with a kiss, pulling her flush with his body.

"Wow," Caroline muttered.

"You're not off the hook." Caroline laughed and pulled him back in for another kiss.

Matt sat on the couch, watching his friends with a smile; who'd of thought he'd be okay with them kissing?

"It's amazing how resilient our hearts are when we're young," Jackie commented, coming to join him on the couch.

"Did you just… like, read my mind or something?"

"Sorry; just a habit."

He smiled at the new vampire, slightly concerned at how normal all this was starting to become to him. Turning his head, he saw Jeremy by the door, probably waiting for his sister to return.

"Jer," Bonnie called, approaching him slowly and placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You okay."

"Better than okay. My sister's alive!"

Bonnie smiled and took his hand, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"I know you're still seeing Anna, but I want you to know that… I still love you, Jeremy. And I think we can make it through this. I mean, we've made it through worse, right?"

"Yeah, we have."

Although he shared a smile with Anna, he wrapped his arm around Bonnie, leaving the issues to later.

~TVD~

The bourbon just didn't have the effect it should have as Damon sat alone at the bar in the kitchen. He was trying to tell himself that it was Elena's choice, and that if she chose Stefan, he'd let her go… let her enjoy her life, but he knew that wasn't true.

How could he watch her with him when he knew how amazing it was to have her himself? To see the love in her eyes that was only for him?

"Damon."

The voice was quiet, but filled with a joy that couldn't be hidden, and he slowly turned to see Elena standing in the doorway.

"Let me guess, you and my brother made up and now you'll both be riding away on a rainbow."

Beneath the joke, Elena could feel the real hurt emanating from him and realized he wasn't even trying to hide his feelings anymore.

"Damon, I-"

"I don't need the explanation, Elena. Just go back to your prince charming, and I'll show up at the next crisis."

"Damon," Elena shouted this time. "You really need to learn when to shut up."

He stared at her, confused by her buoyant smile. And then he really looked at her; she was still gazing at him with all the love he could ever need, like he was everything she wanted.

"Damon… I love you, and I choose you!"

For once in his life, he was speechless. All he could do was stare at her and although he could feel the drool running down his chin, he couldn't remember how to close his mouth. She just chuckled at the sight before closing the distance and laying her hand against his cheek.

The warmth of her touch seemed to awaken him from his stupor and since he still couldn't think the words to say, he simply pulled her up to him and kissed her passionately with all the love he'd kept pent up for the last year and a half. He easily lifted her off the floor, bringing her face up to his level as he continued to assault her lips. She wrapped her legs around his waist and was soon gasping for air. He only trailed his kissed down her neck, never breaking contact.

And then, the sound of someone clearing their throat burst into their little bubble, bringing them back to reality.

"Uh, guys," Jeremy started, blushing furiously.

"What is it, Gilbert," Damon asked, thoroughly annoyed with the kid standing before him.

"Has anyone else realized that we just killed the most powerful vampire on the planet… and survived? I think that calls for a party."

"I second that," Tyler called from the other room.

Elena just rolled her eyes before pulling Damon by the hand to join the others.

"Hey, hybrid," Jackie yelled from her place on the couch. "You think you could help me out here." She lifted her arm with the bandage.

"Oh, uh, yeah, of course."

He extended his arm to her, letting her drink until the wound healed and then she pulled back the bandage, revealing perfect skin.

"Now I'm ready for that party."

~TVD~

Elena flipped the light on in the living room as they tiredly returned home… her home!

"Oh, it feels so good to be back," she exclaimed, touching the banister softly and taking in the familiar living room.

"I second that," Jeremy said from behind her, followed by Alaric. Damon was last to enter, carrying Elena's bags. Thoughts of her friends from last night, carefree and full of laughter, still filled her head and she wore a smile that felt permanently etched on her face. It felt good.

"Bed, definitely going to bed," Alaric mumbled before trudging up the stairs. But after two steps, he stopped, turning to wrap both Elena and Jeremy in a hug. "Do me a favor and don't get in any trouble before sunrise."

They both laughed and nodded, but Elena could see the relief in his eyes now that he knew they were safe. He turned and continued his climb followed by Jeremy who simply mumbled a quick "good night."

"I'll carry these up to your room," Damon offered with a seductive smile as he made his way to the stairs. Elena felt her stomach drop at the thought of Damon in her room, although he'd been there a hundred times. It was different now, and she wasn't sure how to react.

Should she simply kiss him good night and go to bed? Should she ask him to stay? What if he had something more in mind; was she ready for that?

Taking a deep breath, she followed him, walking in just as he was sitting down her bags. For once, he looked just as nervous as she did and he searched her face, hoping to decipher what she wanted in that moment.

"I guess I'll… see you tomorrow," he finally said, though it came out as more of a question.

Elena nodded and reached up to leave him a sweet kiss, but as their lips connected, the passion flowed through them and their connection was blown wide open. The kiss intensified and in a blur, Elena found her back pressed into the mattress.

This time, she didn't feel the need to wait; there was no guilt over Stefan, no thoughts that they were moving too fast. It just felt right, being in his arms, and she found herself wanting more. In a moment of pure need, she reached down and pulled his shirt up over his head, but before returning to her lips, Damon hesitated, staring deep into her eyes.

"Are you sure," he asked her, only barely controlling his own need.

"I'm sure."

That was all he needed to hear and he gently undressed her, reveling in the feel of her soft skin against every inch of him. Everything about that night was perfect and Elena knew it was the best night of her life.

A/N: I hope the scene with Stefan and Elena wasn't too rushed; I just wanted to give them some closure. I also wasn't planning on including the scene with Caroline and Tyler, and Bonnie and Jeremy but I just wanted them to have an ending to their own stories. Reviews are very appreciated!