Hello again guys! Thank you so much for all the good reviews last chapter; you guys are so supportive to me and I love writing for you. Hope you enjoy this chapter because it's the last one before the epilogue.

But I am planning a sequel. What do you guys think about that? I already have the first chapter planned out if that helps : )

Let me know what you guys think of that idea as well as reviewing this chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 21—Awaiting the Dawn

The Next Day—Day of the Execution

Damon was once again in a cage, bars and wire surrounding him preventing and foiling any escape attempts. There was simply a bed in the cage and nothing else.

He lay upon the cot, arm over his eyes. In less than 3 hours, he would be dead. As the minutes ticked by the black hole in his heart got bigger and bigger.

He heard the clicking of heels on the hard tile floor outside his cage. Could it truly be her?

Sitting up quickly, he turned around only to be disappointed. There was a short girl with dark hair staring at him.

He looked at her for a few moments waiting for her to say something. When she still didn't, he spoke.

"I don't mean to be rude, but now is not the time for me to be entertaining people. My execution is in a few hours and I'd much rather spend it in solitude," Damon said before laying back down facing away from the girl, forcing his eyes closed.

"Damon Salvatore?" the girl asked.

"That's my name, for God's sake don't wear it out."

"Damon, my name is Anna. I used to be the roommate of Elena Gilbert."

His eyes popped open again at that statement. Turning around and standing up, he gave her a surprised look.

"Elena told me what happened back in the woods. You saved her life, I'm certain of that much. I don't approve of your relationship. But I had to ask…do you truly care for her? You have a manipulative way of lying to all kinds of people Damon. Now you have nothing to lose—you need to tell me the truth."

Damon eyes widened at her bluntness. She had spunk, he'd give her that.

"How is Elena? Is she alright?" he asked Anna, getting as close to the bars as he could without injuring himself.

"I haven't seen her yet. From what I hear, she's being kept in a cell for today. Rumor has it from the guards that she's been crying all night."

Oh God no…..his eyes closed as a torrent of damn emotions threatened to erupt. His poor Elena!

"Well….Anna I know I just met you and I know you don't like me at all. And for good reason. But I am a changed man. Elena has helped me with that. I love her with all my heart and I only hope she can forgive me for all my evil deeds that I've done. All I want is for her to be happy and healthy. That's all I ask for her Anna."

Anna was truly touched by his little speech. She looked deep into his blue eyes.

He was telling the truth.

"Thank you Damon. That's all I wanted to ask." She turned around and was about to walk out when-

"Anna?"

She turned back to him.

"Tell Elena that I love her. Think you could do that for me?" he pleaded.

Anna simply nodded at him. Then she turned and left.

…..

Elena paced back and forth in the interrogation room she had been thrown in. It had been many hours since she and Damon had been captured. Everything happened so fast…she was handcuffed then thrown into a police car, which sped off immediately. She didn't even know what they did with Damon. But she had an idea….

His worst nightmare had come true—he was captured and caged again.

She was startled out of her thoughts by someone banging on the cage doors.

Anna was standing at the bars with a black bag. "I brought you some essentials for your overnight stay. That's all they told me when I called asking about you."

She nodded t her, walking over to the bars. To Anna Elena looked like a complete wreck.

"I understand now," Anna spoke softly. Elena looked at her, giving her a puzzled look.

"I understand the feelings you and Damon have for each other now. I didn't at first but…I know why you went against all your thoughts and training. You did it for him. He would die for you, you know that right?"

Elena nodded, her doe eyes widening in surprise. That was answer enough for Anna.

"In the bag…you'll find things that will help you escape. You may want to hurry to save your other half—he's set to be executed this afternoon at the main station. I'll see you around, Gilbert."

And with that, Anna turned on her heel and walked out of the station without looking back. Elena continued to stare after her in amazement.

The Following Day

A room full of people was gathered behind the execution glass room. It was like a weird movie viewing room to be exact. Many men were there to witness this soon-to-be famous execution of the notorious Damon Salvatore. The commissioner was there as well as the main DA. Elijah had never seen such a turnout for a killing. There were reporters surrounding the outside of the building, waiting for news. This was truly something the entire world was watching right now. , All the major cable newscasters as well as all the major national newscasters were there to report back when they officially got word that the infamous "vampire" was dead.

Elijah smirked.

He embraced every single minute of what he considered to be the most glorious moment of his life. Within the next seven minutes, Damon Salvatore would be injected with potassium cyanide and the world would be a better place without him and having to chase after him anymore.

Elena would thank him one day.

…..

Down a dark and dim hallway, Damon was rolled on a bed toward the injection room. There were five people in nurse uniforms with medical masks on their faces that wheeled him to his death. Of course, he couldn't say anything because beside the plastic mask over his face, he was gagged as well.

Doom and slight panic rose in his chest. He usually tried to hide is feelings, something he was incredibly good at and perfected over the years. Now he had reached his end with no possible way out.

He thought about his life—his terrible family life, his killing years, his capture, but most of all he thought about Elena. She had been the best thing to ever happen to him in his entire life. She had completely changed his life in more ways than he could even count. He realized he was never seeing her again. He only wished she would have a long and happy life…without him.

He would be watching her from wherever he was sent. He didn't know if he was going to heaven or hell, but wherever it was he would watch over her.

One of the nurses touched his arm, startling him out of his thoughts. He glanced over at her to see why.

Big brown eyes met his icy blue ones.

…..

It was past the designated time. Elijah was tapping his foot impatiently waiting for the light on the other side of the glass in the room to light up. The routine was that the prisoner would already be in the chair, cuffed to the bed when the lights would go on. The executioner would then inject the prisoner then the crowd would watch him die.

So what the hell was taking so long?

Elijah was starting to fume with rage at the pace when he heard faint gunshots coming from the other side of the door in the room.

Running out the door much to the startled views of the witnesses, he rushed out into the hallway and made his way past two very startled guards into the chamber leading down to the basement. He ordered them to arm themselves and follow him down to the chamber.

He burst into the hallway hoping to come across somebody, wanting a good explanation for the noises. The other officers followed him, guns at the ready.

There was nobody in sight.

Walking slowly down the hallway, gun at the ready, he slowly made his way down the dark hallway. There was no sign of anything anywhere. When he reached the room, it was still pitch dark. Knowing the witnesses were on the other side, he flicked the light on.

The sight was completely horrific!

Four nurses and three guards lay dead on the floor of the room. All of them appeared to be shot in the chest. There was blood everywhere.

Elijah's breath quickened at the sight. He could hear the gasps and screams of everyone behind the glass, all of whom were scrambling to get out of there.

The bed Salvatore was supposed to be on was empty and the shackles lay there useless.

Elijah was so shocked and in outrage, he threw his gun in frustration. How the hell did he get out? It was impossible!

"MURDEROUS SON OF A BITCH!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, dropping to the floor.

…..

Outside the station, a black SVU drove away in haste, avoiding all the news vans and reporters.

Once they were far enough away, Damon took off the hat he was wearing and looked at Elena in complete adoration. She was driving them straight to the airport. They were on their way to a new future in a new place. And he couldn't be happier.

"Sweetheart, you are amazing!" he beamed at her. He saw her smile in response.

"I can't believe you got me out of there. The way you shot those people and getting me out-It took guts baby," he grabbed her hand, bringing it up to his lips and kissing her palm.

"Anything for you babe," she turned to smirk at him, taking his face in her hand and giving him a scorching kiss.

When they pulled back, he smiled at her before saying, "I have my own personal Bonnie then."

"And you're my Clyde, babe" she smirked right back.