Time for Elena seemed to have stopped. Looking into Damon's eyes and seeing the blood on his face, she knew that she still hadn't gotten him back to the way he used to be. Maybe there really was no hope for him, maybe the Damon Salvatore she had loved was really gone. Although it hurt Elena to think he was never going to come back, she knew that life had a strange way of showing people what life was really like. She might have been to blind to see the killer in Damon before, but now it was all too clear.

"Seems as though the little witch put a hocus pocus on the cabin," he says as he tries to take a step in, "Seeing as you died and there is no living relative, vampires can get in the house, usually."

"What do you want Damon," she asked aggravated.

"Where's Stefan," he asked looking behind Elena and noticing his brother wasn't there.

"Asleep," she lied, she didn't want Damon looking for Stefan because she knew Damon was stronger, he could kill Stefan easily.

"No, he's not," he smirked, "Every time you lie, your heart beats faster. Now where's my brother, Elena?"

"Why the hell should I tell you," she asked crossing her arms.

"I love it when you get all Sassy," he comments and she rolls her eyes.

"Get to the damn point Damon," she says losing her patience with him.

"Just because you're my brother's girl doesn't mean I won't snap you in half," he says trying to sound threatening, but Elena knew he couldn't get to her as long as she's in the house.

"What are you doing here Damon," she hears Stefan ask as she looks over Damon's shoulder to see Stefan wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.

"We got a problem," Damon says turning to face Stefan, "Usually I wouldn't care, but they're making themselves very known. Someone gave the county police a tip on the killer. My bet was old lover boy, but I compelled him to tell me the truth and it wasn't him. So, they know about us being vampires and everything. Including Elena."

"So, what are we supposed to do Damon," Stefan asks frustrated to say the least, "Kill everyone hoping to find the right person?"

"I've already started that," he says, "I've got that part of the plan covered."

"What exactly do they know," Elena asks shifting uncomfortably.

"According to Sheriff lover boy," Damon begins, "They know you're a doppelganger, was once a vampire, and now you have the cure for vampirism. Other than that, I don't know any more details."

"Why are you telling us," she questioned, "If you don't care about us, if you don't love anyone, why would you tell us?"

"I can't be found out about," Damon shrugged, "If they know what I am, they will kill me. Hell, they would be doing me a favor, but someone has to bring the human population down."

"Keep us updated," Stefan says, walking past Damon into the house with Elena, "We keep her safe at all cost."

"You will," Damon corrects, "Get the witch to undo the spell so next time I don't have to stand outside."

"Bye Damon," Elena says signaling him to leave.

"Elena," Damon says before looking at Stefan, "I'll see you later Stefan."

"See you Damon," Stefan whispers as his brother leaves the porch.

They watch as Damon vamp speeds away from the cabin, though Elena thinks he didn't go far. It's like when they think there's no hope for Damon, he finds a way to change their minds. Elena knew it was going to be a lengthy process to get him back, but she knew that the Salvatore brothers needed each other. Stefan shuts the door slowly feeling every nerve in his body vibrating from the needed feed.

"Do you think he was telling the truth," Elena asked as they walked over to the couch, "About the police knowing what I am and what you guys are."

"I believe him," Stefan nods as they sit on the couch and he pulls her against him, "I think Damon's still in there, maybe way down deep, but he wouldn't have warned us if it wasn't true."

"So, what are we supposed to do," she asks laying her head on his shoulder.

"I won't let them hurt you," he promises, "We'll figure something out."

"I'm not worried about them hurting me," she states, "They know I'm human, they wouldn't kill a human. But they would kill a vampire."

"We'll figure out something," he whispers before kissing her head.

Stefan knew that if it came down to him and Elena to die, he would choose himself. He has lived his life and would gladly give it up for her. Damon would keep her safe, though he would never admit to it while his humanity is off. Elena looked up at him and he tightened the arm that was around her before giving he a sweet kiss on the lips.

"I love you," she whispered looking into his green eyes, "so much."

"I love you more," he whispers back, "So what did you do while I was gone?"

"Had a party with some movies and popcorn that I didn't even know we had," she laughed and it was music to his ears, like an angel was singing just for him to hear.

"Oh, seems fun," he smiled, "Make sure to send me an invite next time you have one of them parties."

"My VIP huh," she asked with bright eyes, "I'll see what I can do."

"Want to go for a walk," he asked and she nodded.

He stands up and reaches his hand out for Elena, she grabs it with a shy smile playing on her lips. They walk hand in hand outside, into the cool air. Stefan figured it was from the wind blowing off the lake. Maybe one day their life wouldn't be so difficult, Elena at least hoped it wouldn't be difficult. She sighed as she leaned into Stefan's side as they watched the water.

"When I was about five," she begins in a whisper, "My parents had taken Jeremy and I to the beach. I just sat on the beach for hours watching the waves, but watching the stillness of the lake has always been better. Never had to worry about the water swallowing me, well only when it rains."

"Scared of the water," he asked and she shook her head.

"No, it's just so peaceful," she whispered, "I mean I died in water, but even that felt peaceful the last few seconds of being alive."

"I remember," he whispered pulling her closer into his side, knowing he would never let her go.

"So, did you get full," Elena asked, knowing they needed to change the subject.

"I did," he laughed, "I needed it more than I thought."

"That's why you have a girlfriend that knows when you need to feed," she smirked looking up at him and he bent down to give her a quick peck on the lips.

"Same thing I was thinking," he whispered with a smile, "Aren't I lucky to have a great girlfriend?"

"I'm the lucky one Stefan Salvatore," she sighs as she lays her head on his shoulder again, "I'm the lucky one."

He doesn't say anything back, she would never understand that he's the lucky one to have her. No matter what he's done, she was always there for him. She brought him back from the edge of hell. She's the one that's always been there, even when he tried to push her away, she never gave up on him. If it wasn't for her, he doesn't know where he'd be now.

"What's on your mind," he asks when he hears her sigh again.

"What Damon said," she admits, "I don't understand. We've all kept quiet, who could have told the cops that you guys are vampires and I've got the cure in me?"

"Someone that's been watching us," he says feeling his heart ache that she's worrying about this, he wishes he could shelter her from all of this.

"What if Damon's just trying to lure us back into town," she asks and he smiles a little.

"I don't think he is," he admits, "Damon's probably having fun, not listening to us bitch at him for another body."

"I know," she whispers looking back out at the lake, "I just don't know him anymore I guess."

"Nobody does," Stefan whispers, wishing to tell her Damon would be back to his old self in no time, but he didn't want to make a promise he couldn't keep.

"I'm getting tired," she says looking back into Stefan's eyes, "I think I'm going to just get some rest and see what happens in the morning."

"Okay," he nods before leading her by the hand back into the house.

They walk upstairs and enter the room they both have gotten accustomed to as their bedroom. For Elena, it wasn't long after her head hit the pillow that she was out. For Stefan, it seemed like an eternity before he felt sleep even glance his way. His mind was spinning with thoughts of what Damon had said, wondering if the police would execute Elena for having the cure, knowing she would attract more unwelcome vampires. Before Stefan knew it, the sun had already begun to rise. He forced his eyes shut, trying to clear his mind, but sleep was unwelcoming. Feeling restless he got up and went to fix Elena breakfast, keeping it simple just bacon and pancakes. When he was done he went upstairs into the bedroom and woke her up with a kiss.

"Good morning," she yawned before noticing the plate in his hand, "You cooked me breakfast?"

"Yes Ma'am," he smiled as he handed her the plate before laying back down in bed with the woman he loved, "How'd you sleep?"

"Good," she commented before taking a bite of bacon, "How about you?"

"I didn't," he replied and she looked at him with worry in her eyes, "Just been thinking all night."

"About what," she asked and he smiled at her to hide his own worry.

"Everything," he shrugged, "You, me, Damon, what he'd said."

"Don't worry Stefan," she says trying to reassure him, "Everything's going to be okay."

"Isn't it supposed to be me reassuring you that everything going to be okay," he asks and she smiles at him.

"Listen Mister Salvatore," she teases, "Just because you've been around longer doesn't mean anything. Damon's been around longer than the both of us and I acted older than he does."

He laughs at that because of how true it is. Elena acted older than what she was, she was so smart, kind, caring, and the love of Stefan's life. That was something Stefan has known for a long time. Elena finishes up her breakfast with her own thoughts of what Damon had said. Part of her wished Damon was lying, but she knew that he was telling the truth. She thought maybe it was because of all the bodies that had come up missing that lead the cops to know about there being vampires in town. As Elena finished up her last piece of her pancake there was a loud knock on the door.

"I'll get that," Stefan says as he gets out of bed.

Each step he took down the steps made his feet feel like they were thirty pounds each. But he managed to open the door with a sigh. Of course, he'd come at 8 in the damn morning. Stefan looked at the man's bright blue eyes.

"What do you want Damon," Stefan asks frustrated.

"I thought I told Elena to get the witch to take the damn spell down," he says and Stefan leans against the doorframe.

"I don't know," Stefan shrugs, "But I know the spell is staying up more now than ever."

"Damon," Elena's voice pulls Stefan out of the glaring he hadn't realized he was doing to his brother, "What do you want?"

"No matter how much I hate your company," Damon says dryly, "We need to talk. The three of us."

"Why," she asked, "Did something happen?"

"Lover Boy called this morning and told me they were going to call us in for questioning," Damon said looking between the two as Elena walked closer, "They aren't going to talk. Stefan and I will end up with a stake to the heart and you… I don't know why the hell they want you."

"I think I know why they want us to come in," Elena says and the brothers turn to look at her.