(Chapter fourteen)

She was gone. She was finally out of Damon and Stefan's lives forever. They had both loved her and Damon had spent years searching for her. He had wanted nothing more than to find her and spend his life with her but Katherine never wanted that. She had manipulated him and played her mind games with him. She had even made it out of the tomb but didn't try to make contact with Damon and from then on he knew that Katherine meant nothing to him, she was dead in his eyes and that's when Elena came into the picture. She had changed him for the better and he was thankful for that. Elena was his world and he had promised to protect her, even if it meant having his own life taken from him. As Damon's mind raced and all the memories came back to him, he glanced over to see Elena sitting on a phew in the church. She looked so weak and helpless as she rested her head on Bonnie's shoulder.

"Elena," said Damon as he stroked her cheek. "lets get you home."

"Okay." she whispered to him. "And Bonnie? Thank you. If it wasn't for you God only knows what would have happened."

"She's right Bonnie." said Damon. "I don't know how to thank you enough for what you've done. You saved her and I'm eternally grateful for that, I owe you."

"You don't owe me anything Damon. I did it because I love Elena and I knew it was the right thing to do. She's my best friend and I can't live without her just as much as you can't." smiled Bonnie.

Damon nodded his head at her and then reached down to take Elena into his arms as he walked towards his car to take her home.

"I missed you Damon...and I love you." whispered Elena into Damon's ear.

"I love you too Elena and I'm just thankful that you're okay."

Elena had missed this room. Even though she had only been gone for about three days she missed this room. It was the room she shared with Damon. She laid down on the bed and her eyes began to close until she felt someone next to her, staring at her face. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Damon looking back at her.

"Hello." she said softly.

"You're weak Elena..." he whispered as he began to play with your hair. Suddenly he sat up quickly and brought his wrist to his face. He bit down and then he could see the blood rising to the surface.

"Please, drink this. It'll give you some of your strength back." he said as he positioned his wrist in front of Elena's mouth. Elena did as she was told and she began to drink. Damon could see the color begin to reappear in her face as he let out a sigh or relief and then pulled his wrist away.

"That's enough. I think you're okay now." he smiled.

"I feel so much better!" said Elena as she stretched her arms and legs out. "It feels so good to be out of those old heavy chains." Elena could see Damon frown. "It's okay Damon. I'm alive and Katherine is dead, that's all that matters."
"But I promised to always protect you Elena! I let this happen to you, I broke my promise." he said as he turned his back to Elena and got up and walked towards the window in their room that overlooked the garden. Elena got up and walked to him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Damon, it's okay." she said.

"I promise I'll do anything that you want me to do." he said.

"Well you can start by turning around to face me and then you can kiss me." she giggled. Damon turned around and looked down at Elena. His hand began to move forwards towards her face and the cupped it. He then reached down and kissed her like he had never kissed her before. First the kiss was hard and Elena could feel that he was filled with pain but then it turned soft. Elena could then feel... love. Damon loved her and she loved him. It was as simple as that.
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Elena and Damon walked down the stairs into the living room to find bags waiting at the door. Elena looked around the room confused and then up at Damon as he shrugged. Alex came into the room oblivious to the fact that Damon and Elena were there, she was in the zone.

"Alex?" asked Elena.

"Oh, hi Elena. You look so much better! I'm so glad that your alright." smiled Alex as she went over to hug Elena.

"What are you doing? Why are all of your bags packed?" Elena was confused.

"Because I'm leaving." said Alex simply.

"Where are you and Stefan headed to now?" smiled Elena.

"Stefan is staying here and I'm going back home." she stepped back to take in her surroundings and then looked back at Elena and sighed. "I just can't do this anymore Elena. Stefan will never love me like he loves you. I've told him that eventually he's gotta get over it because you made your choice but I just can't be second in his life. If I'm going to be with someone I want to be first."

"Alex..I'm sorry...but can you not stay a little longer? I wanted you to be in the real wedding..." said Elena sadly.

"Elena, no matter what happens between Stefan and I, I will always be your friend and I live in South Carolina so I'm not that far from Mystic Falls. When you're wedding is ready, call me and I promise to be in it. I haven't known you very long but I think of you as a best friend." she smiled sweetly.

"Oh Alex! Thank you! I think of you as a best friend too! I'm really going to miss having you around though. It was nice to have another girl in the house." she laughed.

"I'll be back soon." she sighed looking around at the house she had come to love. "Tell Stefan goodbye for me." and with that Alex was gone. Elena stood in the doorway with Damon as they watched her car drive off.

"I'm really going to miss her..." said Elena.
"Great, she's gone and that means Stefan will do nothing but brood and try and hit on you. I may just have to stake him, I've been dying to do it for years." he mumbled.

"I heard that." scowled Elena. "You know that you can't hurt him. No matter how much you refuse to admit it, I know you care about him. But Damon, I have chosen you. I'm not Katherine and I never will be so stop worrying that Stefan will steal me away." she said as she held his pouting face in her hands.

"Come on, lets start looking at stuff for the wedding." said Elena as she grabbed Damon and pulled him into the living room to look at catalogs.

"Oh joy!" said Damon sarcastically and Elena rolled her eyes.

"You said you were doing this so I could get the whole human experience before I well, turn. So to get that experience, I need the help of my fiancee. Okay?" she said.

"Fine, you win...for now." winked Damon. "Lets get cracken."