Elena:

I hear the door open down stairs and my eyes widen. I freeze and look at Bonnie. She takes my hand and gives a small smile. "It's Damon." She says.

I let out a breath and smile as I get off the bed. I race down the stairs and without a second glance I run right into Damon's arms.

"Did you find him?" I ask, my voice muffled into his leather jacket.

"Yeah." He says in a strained voice.

I pull back concerned and look at his face. I feel a sharp pain of fear in my chest at his expression, but even stronger is the feeling of heartbreak. Damon looks utterly defeated and while I know I should be scared for myself, right now my focus is on helping Damon.

"Let's go to my room." I say taking his hand. "I'll send Bonnie and Caroline out to get her grandmothers grimoire. We can be alone for awhile."

He nods and allows me to drag him up the stairs. I walk in and I'm met with stares from both Bonnie and Caroline. I glance back at Damon and see his face has been set in the emotionless mask he does so well.

"Will you guys go get the grimoire?" I ask quietly. "I really want to figure this out before I get too tired."

They both nod and give me sympathetic smiles. I return small smiles to them on the way out. I watch in shock and amazement as on her way out, Bonnie rests her hand on Damon's forearm.

"We'll figure this out." She says giving him a small, encouraging smile.

His face is a cross between shock and confusion.

She nods at me before walking out of my room and down the stairs. I watch her go and give her one last wave as she disappears out of sight.

"I guess she's warming up to me." Damon says in a small, gruff voice. I look into his eyes and see he's allowed his emotions back through. He's not looking at me but I can still see the tormented look in his eyes.

"Damon, look at me." I plead.

He glances down and when his eyes meet mine, that is when the first tear falls. It makes a trail halfway down his cheek before I bring my hand up and wipe it away.

I take his hand and lead him over to the bed. He nearly falls down against the headboard, seemingly exhausted. He rolls his head back and closed his eyes. I crawl up so I'm sitting beside him.

For a few moments I just watch his face. Suddenly his arm slowly wraps around my waist and gently draws me into him. I easily comply and let my head fall onto his chest.

I feel his lips come down onto my head as he plants a kiss into my hair.

The questions nearly bubble from my lips but I stay quiet, allowing him this moment.

Finally he breaks the silence. "I love you Elena." He says through his broken voice.

I pull out of his chest so I can look into his eyes. I look up and see the tears falling down his cheeks. His eyes are consumed with pure anguish and I understand that Stefan must have told him the worst case scenario.

I'm going to die.

As the thought and realization crashes over me, his lips are suddenly on mine.

I feel his fear, his torment, the pure agony he is feeling. I'm sure he is able to sense distress that is filling my heart.

As his tears fall between our lips I can taste the saltiness mixed with our anxiety.

He pulls back and looks at me with his eyebrows knotted together, a look of sorrow and despair set on his face. "I-I'll do anything Elena." He stutters. "I'll save you. You know I will."

He looks into my eyes, and although the look on his face tells me he can't, I nod and answer with a small smile that I'm sure looks quite distorted. "I know you will." I lie with a whisper.

He brings his lips to mine, more urgently. He knows I'm lying.

"I will." His tortured voice says between kisses. "I have to."

For an unknown length of time he just kisses me, and holds me close and whispers false reassurances to me.

I just cherish the feeling of his skin on mine, the completeness I feel, keeping in the back of my mind that any moment might be my last. \

Damon:

I might actually lose Elena. Just the thought of her dying peacefully in her slip would make me go crazy but to know she will probably suffer immensely feels like a hole is literally being torn through my body.

I just keep kissing her, and holding her and memorizing every inch of her. I want to do more, so much more with her yet after everything she has been through, and the exhaustion she will probably feel after is enough to keep me from going farther.

I finally pull back feeling the power of the witch and her sidekick getting close. I will the tears to stop flowing and Elena wipes away the last traces. I give her one last lingering kiss before taking her hand.

"They're back." I say simply.

She leans into my chest and we walk downstairs and open the door to the sad looking faces of Bonnie and Caroline.

"We couldn't find anything." Bonnie says as a fat tear rolls down her face.

Caroline releases a sob and I can't bear to look when I hear the choking whimper of confirmation from Elena.

I can't handle it. "You guys take care of Elena." I say through gritted teeth.

I heard Elena's agonized cry for me as I disappear from sight set on finding Stefan and getting his help in this.

Sorry it's so short. I'll honestly try to get a chapter up tomorrow!

Btw. The inspiration for this chapter was Broken by Lifehouse