"Do you really have to go down and leave me all alone?" Damon pouted.

Elena rolled her eyes exasperated, "Don't pout Damon, it's not attractive."

He pouted some more, "I can't believe you're leaving me like this." he sighed.

She sat down beside him and kissed his cheek softly, causing him to frown slightly. "You're leaving me here all alone to fend for myself and that's all I get?"

She shook her head laughing as she kissed his lips lightly, sparks flying between them. "Grow up. We waited hours already. The main station shuts at eight anyway, we have t go now, or we won't make it before it closes. And don't sound so needy. Go to sleep, try not to do anything stupid."

He smirked and rose an eyebrow. "I would never." he said slyly, reaching up to pull her lips to meet his.

"They're waiting at the station-" she insisted, pulling away, "-see you later." She kissed him once more before disappearing out of the door, leaving Damon staring after her wishing he wasn't hurt.

"So-" the elder police officer asked after what seemed like hours. Elena, Jenna and Ric sat in the questioning answering question after question about the incident and had now moved past the domestic abuse accusations and were now on to Klaus' background. "-We understand you were in a relationship with Klaus Mikaelson for a number of years, yes?"

She frowned, as did Ric, wasn't it obvious she had been in a 'relationship' with him?

"Obviously. He was abusing her, as we just covered in painful detail." shot out Ric bitterly.

The police officer rolled his eyes, "We understand this is brutal to go through but with cases like these we have to meticulous with every detail, a slip up, even a tiny one could result in him being allowed back on the streets."

Elena nodded briefly, apologising and allowing them to continue.

"At any point, during all the time you have known him, did he ever show signs of any criminal activity? Drugs, theft, that sort of thing."

She tensed, this was exactly was she didn't want to get into. If Klaus was found guilty of any of that he would hand in all those who were linked in a heartbeat. He would most definitely bring up her brother. She was torn, they would find out anyway and question him about it and he would still hand in the names. She would be making it easier for the police and saving valuable time and money by just telling them.

"Elena?" Ric prompted gently. She started, bringing her out of her reverie.

"Nothing substantial, but there were hints. He would have money suddenly, working all sorts of hours, strange habits." Once she had started she just couldn't stop. Details came flooding out of her mouth in short bursts.

"He kept his study locked at all times, his phones would change every few days. He wouldn't discuss 'business' as he called it over the phone or through e-mail, he had to meet face to face. He always kept strange hours, coming in in the middle of the night and he was always tense when stuff like drug raids or burglaries would come on the news." she sighed. "He always avoided the cops, but was on his best behaviour around them. I remember waking up in the middle of the night and found him burning clothes in the back garden. If that isn't suspicious then I don't know what is."

Silence followed as everyone stared at her, mouths open slightly.

When the police officer spoke next, his tone was stern and disbelieving. "Miss Gilbert. If you knew all this why didn't you come forward before?" he asked scathingly.

Again, Ric jumped in. "Because he was abusing her. Can't you see her face? It's not as bad as it was but when she reported it they took pictures, I'm sure you can look at them. She couldn't just walk down here and report all that while he was using her as a punching bag!" he exploded angrily. Even after only knowing her a short while, he had become exceptionally protective of her. No one should have to go through what she had.

Elena glanced at him, urging him to shut the hell up. He rolled his eyes and sat back in his seat, fuming with rage.

"We understand that, sir." said the younger officer, who was looking at his colleague as if he was an idiot. "Anything else, miss?"

Elena shook her head, dying to just go home and collapse. The police officer sighed and glanced at his partner.

"That should be enough I suppose. We may have to call you back down though."

Elena breathed out a sigh of relief as she stood up. "Thank you." she said before hurrying out of the station, not waiting for Ric and Jenna.

She cursed as she pulled up in front of the Boarding House. She'd left her key there since she'd used it to let herself in all those weeks ago.

Reluctantly, she rang the doorbell, knowing Damon would either be sleeping and mad at whoever had rang the doorbell, or still mad at whoever rang the doorbell for forcing him to stand up.

A very pissed Damon appeared at the door, his face set in stone. "What?" he snapped suddenly before a smirk slid onto his face. "Hey, gorgeous." he said cockily.

She rolled her eyes and elbowed his ribs as she walked past and into the kitchen. "Go lie down!" she yelled through to him from the kitchen.

He smirked as he edged into the room, only wincing slightly at each step. "But I'm bored." he said matter of factly as he sat at the breakfast bar.

She rolled her eyes and handed him the cup of coffee she'd just made. "But you're hurt." she said knowledgeably as she poured herself another cup.

He snorted. "That's never stopped me before." he smiled indulgently at her as she sat down opposite him. "Knew you couldn't resist me." he winked laughing.

She rose and eyebrow and smiled widely.

"What did they ask you?" he asked casually.

She shrugged, "The usual. Details, previous-" she broke off and stirred her coffee edgily. "About previous criminal activity." she said quietly, praying he wouldn't pick up on her mood.

He battled his way around the island to sit beside her and trace circles on the back of her hand. "What's up, Laylay?"

She smiled weakly and turned to face him, her sad chocolate eyes meeting his worried blue ones. His hand reached out to stroke her cheek with the back of his finger lightly.

She shook her head slightly, laughing forcefully, "Just stuff about Jer." she shrugged and drank her coffee quickly.

"Elena." he said firmly. "You know you can talk to me about anything."

"Elena," he said rolling his eyes when she wouldn't come out from under the covers. "You know you can talk to me about anything." he prodded her gently.

She rolled over, revealing her sad face "You're a guy, Damon." she prodded him back.

He sank back onto the bed beside his fifteen year old best friend and hugged her tight. "I'm still your best friend."

She sighed, "You won't like it." she mumbled weakly, causing him to raise an eyebrow.

"Why not?"

"Because it's about Matt." she murmured quietly, causing anger to build up inside him.

"What did he do?" he asked in a low voice, clenching his fist against the duvet.

"He stood me up." she said softly, her usually bright eyes sad.

"Again?" he growled."You didn't let me smash his face in last time, 'Lens, but I'm going to this time!"

She rolled her eyes and buried her face in his neck, smiling as his arm automatically wound around her and pulled her close.

"Don't okay? It'll just make everything worse." He rose an eyebrow at her words. Was it his fault somehow?

"Is it to do with me or something?" he asked questioningly.

"He said he couldn't go for me because of you. Apparently, I'm 'off-limits'." she sighed and shook her head.

He frowned slightly. "Does that bother you?"

She shook her her head and wrapped her arms around his neck, "Nope." she whispered against his ear.

"Nope." she said. "Not this. I don't want to get into this."

He frowned. "Why not?"

She glared at him, "Because it's a whole big mess of lies and bullshit and blackmail!" she practically yelled at him, completely exasperated.

He glared straight back at her, "And what?" he asked sharply, "What's the problem?"

"Damon! I already told you about Jeremy! Can you just drop it!" she growled before rushing upstairs. He sighed and took one glance at the staircase, considering going after her.

He sat down in defeat. Sure he could manage a few forced steps from the living room to the kitchen but stairs were a whole different ball game. He grunted as he practically collapsed onto the sofa and covered his face with a pillow. Right now, he needed to be able to charge upstairs after her, pin her down and fight it out of her. He had said he wasn't one for pushing but when she was upset, angry or in any sort of trouble he honestly couldn't give a damn.

"Elena?" Ric's voice echoed through the silent house. "Damon, you alright man?" he asked lightly.

He groaned and sat up. "Not really. Want to go upstairs and drag Elena down here kicking and screaming?" he said hopefully.

Ric snorted. "Last time I tried to touch her – when I was helping her – she punched me in the jaw. No thanks." he sat down next to him with a glass of bourbon in his hand. "What's up?"

"I don't know." he frowned and ground his teeth together. "Which is why I need to be able to go upstairs and find out."

Ric laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "She's tough, Damon. She'll come talk to you if she needs it."

Damon rolled his eyes and snorted. "No she won't. She only talks about stuff if you force it out of her. And I fucking hate having to force stuff out of her." he moaned and snatched Ric's bourbon who promptly snatched it straight back, rolling his eyes.

"Damon. You're on painkillers remember? Alcohol plus meds. Not smart, man." Ric said reasonably.

Damon snorted. "You're no fun when you're responsible."

"And you're no fun when you're attempting to mix meds with bourbon."

Damon smirked. "Go talk to Elena then." Smiling innocently when Ric looked defeated.

Ric laughed and stood up. "Fine. I'll go ask her nicely to come down and talk to you." he playfully punched his chest. "If she hurts me, it's on you."

"Hey 'Lena." Ric smiled at her as he strolled casually into her room and bounced onto her bed.

She rolled her eyes and smiled lightly at him. "God, you're so like Damon." she shook her head laughing.

He shrugged. "Damon's crashed on the sofa and Jenna's at home. What you doing?" he asked hopefully.

She eyed him suspiciously. She'd thought he'd just come out and tell her to go talk to Damon. She shrugged and moved over so he could sit next to her. "Just watching some awful horror movie." she scoffed at something that had just happened on the screen. "I mean look!" she said exasperated as she gestured to the television.

Ric laughed loudly. "Man, that is fake!" he smiled. "What is this anyway?" he asked amused.

She shrugged laughing, "I dunno. I was just flicking through and it looked like something to kill the time."

Ric lay back on the sofa's and chucked one at her. "Mind if I watch it with you? I'm bored at hell. Damon's no fun when he's hurt." He pouted innocently and fluttered his eyelashes.

Elena burst out laughing and nodded, smiling. "Sure. But only 'cause that face was hilarious and you can be my entertainment for the night."

Ric hit her in the face with a pillow. "Hey! I'm hurt by that!"

Elena shook her head and buried her face in the cushions behind her. "You and Damon really are so alike."

Ric shrugged. "Sometimes. Other times we're completely different."

Elena smiled slightly. "Good. I couldn't deal with two of you."

Ric leant back and stretched, yawning. "I know you care about him."

Elena blushed, looking away to the side causing Ric to prod her face mockingly. "Ickle 'Lena blushing. Aw!" he mocked, in a baby voice.

Elena scowled and glared at him, pinching him hard in retaliation.

"Ow!" he yelled out. "That hurt!"

"Ickle Ricky hurted his arm?" Elena mocked.

Ric glared at her. " You're exactly like him too. He'd resort to dirty tactics aswell. No wonder he loves you." he said, covering his arms from her attack.

Elena froze, the smile merging into a look of shock. "What?" she said softly making Ric's eyes widen slightly.

Ric looked at her with a confused expression. "You never thought?"

Elena shook her head slightly, a slight smile appearing on her face. Of course, he'd said it countless times but always as friends. And then, there was the other day at the hospital but she'd assumed he had been either high on pain medication or joking.

Ric elbowed her. "You're oblivious." he shook her head. "Honestly."

She rolled off of the bed and pulled on her slippers. "Night Ric." she said softly.

Ric rose an eyebrow, smiling slightly, "I don't need to ask where you're going, do I?"

Elena scoffed and rolled her eyes. "He's my weak spot. He's the one person I can't stay mad at." she smiled at Ric, "Though I love to try."

Ric rolled off of the bed and headed to the door, "I'm gonna head over to Jenna's. See you in the morning." he said quietly before slipping outside.

She sighed and slipped on a hoodie before making her way downstair,s smiling at the sight that she saw.

Damon lay crashed out on the sofa, his mouth hanging open slightly and his hair tousled from running his fingers through it.

She smiled gently to herself and lay down next to him, laying her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes. His strong arms wound their way around her still form and pulled her close. She would talk to him. Tomorrow, the day after, eventually – it didn't matter. What mattered was here and now and the way she was still feeling even after four years apart.

Horrible ending.