Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries. Obviously.

Author's Note: Yes, I killed Damon. I feel guilty already! But will he stay dead? Read on…

Elena was incoherent, and nothing could calm her down. Did vampire emotions always feel like this? She felt like she was going to die every time she thought about Damon's cold grey skin, and that horrible stake sticking out of his heart.

Elijah had returned her to Mystic Falls, to Stefan, but she didn't feel better at all when she saw him. Damon was dead and nothing else mattered right now.

"Elena," Stefan said gently, and took her hand. She closed her eyes to try to block him out.

"I'm sorry," he said, and she realised how selfish she was being. Damon was his brother.

She turned to him, and he wrapped her in a hug.

"It's okay," he told her. "I understand."

She pulled back and stared at him.

He smiled wryly.

"I've spent two and a half years watching you two fall for each other," he told her. "I'm sorry it ended this way."

"Stefan," she said, shaking her head.

"No," he told her. "Don't deny it, Elena. The time for fighting yourself is over now."

"I love you," she insisted.

He nodded.

"I know. And we will always be friends, Elena. Family."

"No, Stefan…you saved me. You brought me back to life when I didn't want to live anymore. You should love the person who makes you glad you're alive," she said, whispering the words she had spoken to Matt.

"Love doesn't care about 'should'," he said simply.

She burst into tears again, and he hugged her, sharing their grief.

Bonnie burst in, followed by Laura.

"What are you doing here?" Elena snapped, angry at the sight of the witch who had robbed her of precious time with Damon.

"Elena, he might not be dead," Bonnie told her, and Elena frowned.

"My spell acts like a barrier," Laura said. "It's like an impenetrable layer around his heart."

Elena shook her head.

"Look at him!" she yelled. "The stake went through his heart!"

"Just let Laura look at him," Bonnie soothed, and Elena reluctantly stepped out of her way.

The redheaded witch knelt over Damon's body, and chanted a few words, holding her hands over his heart.

"What's going on Bonnie?" Elena asked. "He got staked. How could be alive?"

"Because the stake Katherine used isn't just a normal wooden stake, Elena. It's wrapped in the magic Esther used to make it indestructible. Laura's magic makes Damon's heart impenetrable. When the magics collide it's like two magnets that repel each other."

Elena's eyes searched Bonnie's, still not quite believing this could be real.

Laura looked up.

"The spell will stop his heart from healing over," Laura said. "It needs to break before he can be revived."

"What?" Elena said. "But…"

"The year will be up in two weeks. After that, it's all up to you," she told Elena.