Bring You Home
I know grace is hard and our patience slow
And our hearts grow dark when we lose our hope
I will drive and I will find you over miles of empty road
And bring you home
-Peter Bradley Adams

Damon's POV:

In the grand scheme of things, what could it really hurt? To take just one night away from the problems, the frustrations and the never-ending witchy drama? Just one night to celebrate the fact that he was here, alive, and in the same room as his brother, best friend and the love of his life?

He'd done his part. Jeremy was taking Liv to the boardinghouse. Matt and Liz were out looking for Jessa, and soon, Bonnie would have everything she needed to help them overpower Lucy and break this stupid memory curse.

But until then, he was surely free to enjoy the evening, right? After all, hadn't he earned it? Didn't he deserve to be able to spend every free second with her? Not to mention that every moment spent away from her was just a wasted opportunity to potentially help jog her memories, and didn't he owe it to her to keep trying?

It wasn't that he didn't have the upmost faith in Bonnie… but life had taught him better than to invest too much hope into one singular plan. There had to be something else he hadn't yet tried – like a loophole or a trigger. And he was determined to find it.

As he stood back and away from the drunkenly senseless crowd and observed a giggling Elena partaking in the fun by tossing back another shot of tequila, he suddenly felt the familiar presence of a tense and worried Stefan standing beside him. He didn't have to look over at him to know that he was sipping the Scotch from his glass and running an uneasy hand though his perfectly coiffed hair.

"Great party." He'd attempted to suppress his sarcasm, but no such luck.

"Hmm?" Stefan suddenly seemed to notice him as he broke away from his thoughts. "Oh, right. Yeah. Really great," he replied indifferently.

Damon turned to look at him. "Should I assume your current demeanor has to do with a certain blonde vampire that just left with a certain werewolf, or is that just your general 'I'm happy' tone?"

Stefan smirked and shook his head as he took another sip of his drink. "What the hell am I doing?" He asked to no one in particular.

"Brother, if I had a dime for every time I had to stop and ask myself that," he smirked at the irony.

"No, I'm serious," said Stefan suddenly turning to face him. He looked like he'd just had some sort of an epiphany. Then again, he was probably just drunk and rambling. "She's my ex-girlfriend's best friend."

"I don't think she cares too much right now buddy," Damon said as he watched a gorgeous, yet deviously looking Elena, as she locked eyes with him from across the room.

"But more importantly, she's one of my best friends," Stefan continued as he placed a hand on Damon's shoulder, paying no attention to the flirtatious exchange before him. "I nearly just ruined everything. And for what?"

Damon finally tore his eyes away from Elena as she began to chat with one of her friends, to look at his brother again. He knew it was just the alcohol that had Stefan confiding in him – a complete stranger as far as he was concerned – but still, he couldn't help but feel grateful. He hadn't exactly been the best at giving brotherly advice in their past, but now that he'd been given a second chance, he'd promised himself that he'd try and do better; that he owed it to his brother to be better, both for Stefan and Elena's sake.

"I mean it's Caroline," Stefan continued to think out loud as he turned to scan the party again. "I can't have feelings for her. She's all I've got right now, and if I go and fuck it up and make things weird between us then all I'll have will be,"

"Me," finished Damon. "And Ric, and Elena," he threw in quickly for good measure. Stefan grinned and shook his head again. "Look," continued Damon. "I'm not gonna lie, at first the whole 'you and her together' thing was kind of throwing me a bit. I mean for one, she's way to pretty to be with the likes of you," they both smirked, "but if you care about her, then why not? Some people are just drawn to that whole control-freakiness thing. I'm sure you can't help it. Just like I'm sure she's drawn to your brooding and, slightly annoying, do-gooder attitude," he jabbed as Stefan smirked. "But in all seriousness - from just a total outsiders perspective - you two seem like you make each other happy. And trust me brother," he said as he placed a hand on Stefan's shoulder, "life is way to short and unpredictable to waist even a second of it away from the people who make you happy – even for a vampire."

Stefan studied him for a moment, considering his words, before finally nodding his head in appreciation. "Maybe Caroline was wrong about you," Stefan smirked as he tilted his glass to him. "Just don't tell her I said that."

"Deal," Damon grinned as he looked back out onto the party in search of Elena. "Now go get her."

Stefan smiled as he sat his glass of Scotch atop the nearby entertainment center, before tilting his neck and insinuating towards the 5'7 brunette behind them. "You too."

Caroline's POV:

"I'm not mad," repeated Tyler for the third time.

"Really? Tell your face," sighed Caroline as she crossed her arms and watched him lean against the metal railing. They'd made their way to the small upstairs balcony that led off of Alaric's room in an attempt to escape the noisy crowd below. Tyler had insisted with the upmost urgency that they needed to talk right away.

"Well what do you want me to say, Care? I mean… do you have feeling for the guy?"

She looked at him for a moment before looking to the ground uncertainly, guilt clearly evident all over her face. "I don't know, okay? And even if I did, you can't just come in and say those things and act all mad. You don't have a right anymore,"

"Don't you think I know that?" he quickly interrupted. "I know I fucked up, Care. I know that I was selfish with you and I know that I have absolutely no right to ask or even appear to be jealous… but I can't help it, okay?"

"But that's not fair to me, Tyler! I haven't done anything wrong. You can't just keep coming back around and making me feel like a terrible person every time I start to show interest in anyone that isn't you."

"So you are into him?"

Caroline sighed in frustration again. "We're just friends, okay? And, not that it's any of your business, but nothing's going on."

Tyler nodded, though obviously unconvinced. "Okay," he sighed throwing his hands up in defeat. "You're right. I won't say another word about it. I'm sorry."

"Okay," she nodded.

"Okay." He frowned, staring out into the distance.

They stood in awkward silence for a few moments as she debated on whether or not the conversation was over and whether or not that was her cue to leave. Though she knew deep down that there was no real reason to feel guilty about what had nearly – or nearly not – happened with Stefan, she couldn't help it. And not just because of Tyler's ridiculously unreasonable guilt trip.

A certain type of fear, mixed with nervous excitement, had suddenly crept in and made everything between her and Stefan's previously uncomplicated relationship, extra complicated; and the only thing that could possibly be more awkward than confronting that newfound complication, was to ignoring it.

"Something's happened," began Tyler, suddenly changing the subject and interrupting her racing thoughts. "Something that's going to sound crazy to you, but I have to tell you anyway because…. you need to know."

She suddenly uncrossed her arms and stared at him nervously. "What's wrong?"

He turned away from the edge of the balcony and slowly began to approach her. "Damon's back from the dead, Caroline," he said calmly.

She half laughed at the words. "Well aren't we all?"

"I'm serious." Tyler continued, unfazed. "He's back from the Other Side, or whatever it is now, and he think's he's found a way to save Bonnie too."

She stared at him strangely, a small smile still on her face. "What are you talking abo,"?

"And I know you can't remember anything, but you need to know that she's in danger and that she needs our help."

"Okay, who's Bonnie? Tyler what's going,"

"She was one of your best friends, Care. You can't remember her because some crazy ass witch screwed with all of your memories. None of you can."

Caroline gawked at him. He sounded like an absolute crazy person.

"Damon is Stefan's brother," Tyler continued slowly, this time touching her arms imploringly as he continued to explain. "Stefan's been AWOL and an absolute wreck for the last six months because he's been grieving the loss of his brother, and now that he's finally back he can't even remember him. No one can. Not you, not even Elena and they were in love."

Caroline couldn't help but snicker in amusement, but when Tyler didn't join in, she resumed her look of upmost confusion. She tilted her head and stared at him for several moments, unable to form a single coherent thought. "Stefan's been traveling with Jessa these last few months, Tyler. You know that. What are you even talking about? He doesn't have a brother. And Elena is certainly not in 'love' with Damon." She mocked as she continued to watch him, waiting for him to start laughing or to get to the ending of his weird joke, but when he didn't she placed a hand on his forehead. "Are you feeling okay? What's going on with you? Does this have something to do with the werewolf gene?"

He took her hand and lowered it. "I'm fine, Caroline. And I'm telling you the truth. I know it sounds hard to believe, but I need you to. I need you to understand that you've forgotten so many important things – you, Elena, Stefan, Ric. None of you can remember the truth, and I need you to. There's a witch that's trying to take over all of Bonnie's magic and Liv's… actually she's trying to take over all magic ever, and she needs to be stopped. Your best friend could be gone for good if we don't do something."

"Did Damon put you up to this?" she interrupted suddenly, as anger slowly infiltrated her tone. She huffed in frustration as she walked over to the edge of the balcony and away from him.

"What? No! I just,"

"Or is this just another pathetic attempt at trying to make me feel guilty about what happened with Stefan? Because seriously, Tyler. Get over it!"

"Caroline I'm telling you the truth," Tyler pleaded.

"Really? Because it sounds like you might be suggesting that the only possible way for Stefan to have real feelings for me is if his memories are completely wrong or if he doesn't even remember who he really is – and just to clarify – he's fine! I've actually never seen him happier. Maybe it's you that needs help remembering, Tyler, because just in case you forgot, we're over. We've been over! You made damn well sure of that the second you chose revenge over me so thank you for that."

They both stood in silence for a few moments, her breathing heavy with hurt and anger as a tear slowly rolled down her cheek.

"Wow," said Tyler softly as he ran a hand through his hair. "Care, I,"

"You can go now," she said softly as she turned away from him to look out upon the dark neighborhood. "Please just go."

She heard him let out a heavy sigh, as if debating on whether or not to continue arguing with her, but seemed to decide against it. A few moments later, she heard the sound of his footsteps against the ground as he turned to leave, opening and closing the balcony door, and leaving her alone in silence.

A few more tears continued to slide down her cheek as she took another deep breath and attempted to fight away their threats of becoming heavy sobs.

'How dare he?' she thought as she quickly wiped them away. She had loved him. She had loved him more than she'd thought it was even possible to love someone… and he had broken her heart. Repeatedly. At the time, she hadn't even known such pain existed. She'd cried herself to sleep for months as she tried to recount the events of their relationship and ask herself what more she could have possibly done to have convinced him to stay; to convince him that Klaus wasn't worth it - that they were worth it.

But he'd left and and she'd moved on. She'd had no choice. And now, when she was finally happy, here he was spouting off crazy notions of memory loss and witch conspiracy theories in an effort to make her feel guilty. 'How dare he?' she thought again, trying to shake the anger.

But still….

There was the tiniest, smallest, most microscopic sliver of curiosity that suddenly had her mind spinning. She recalled the morning she'd awoken in such a panicked state, desperate to piece the memories of her life together, desperate to hear Stefan tell her what she should have, without a doubt, already known. It wasn't possible…

As a small raindrop fell from the sky and landed on her cheek, she quickly looked up. The clouds were slowly moving in towards Whitmore. She took that as her sign to wipe away her tears, erase her paranoid thoughts and rejoin the party.

As she left the balcony, closed the door behind her, and made her way out into the hallway, she'd barely reached the descending staircase before she felt a hand reach for her, grab her hand and quickly pull her into a nearby, deserted room.

Everything happened so fast. She suddenly felt his lips crashing against hers, one hand in her hair, another on her waist. Her back was being pressed against the bedroom door, forcing it closed. She had no idea whose bedroom they were in or what had just come over him, but she quickly realized – as all prior worries and doubts left her head – she didn't care.

She felt herself quickly returning Stefan's kiss, his tongue finally meeting hers, her hand placing itself behind his head, desperate to pull him closer. All of her senses were suddenly on overdrive, every touch shooting an electric spark through her spine, every kiss leaving her breathless and desperate for another one.

His lips lingered on hers for several moments, as he slowly pulled back. She felt lightheaded and completely hypnotized at the completely unexpected act.

"What are you doing?" she whispered nervously through the darkness.

"Taking your advice," he replied as his his hands rose to gently touch her face. "I'm living in the moment."

She nodded, unable to breathe let alone speak.

He watched her, nervousness and doubt obviously creeping in. "A mistake?"

She quickly shook her head, but as her eyes left his and found the floor, he slowly dropped his hands and took a step back.

"I'm sorry," he said suddenly. "I misread,"

"No, Stefan. You didn't," she quickly countered, reaching for his arms. "It's just that I… I don't know… You just surprised me." And he certainly had. She wasn't sure anything had ever shocked her more.

He stepped towards her again, studying her face. "You look upset."

"I'm not upset," she quickly reassured, placing her hand on his face. "This is good," she moved up to kiss him again. "This is good." He smiled against her lips, as his uncertainties seemed to diminish.

She felt her back being pressed against the back of the door again as their mouths once again met in desperate longing. His hands resumed in tangling themselves into her hair as hers rummaged through his. However, as his lips left hers and began to kiss along her jawline and down to her neck, she felt Tyler's stinging words about Stefan's memories once again racing through her mind.

"Stefan," she half panted. He didn't pull away, but instead placed his hands on her lower back, tugging at her dress. "Stefan, Tyler said something…"

He slowly pulled away to meet her eyes again. "Tyler?" he asked, looking slightly offended.

"It's just something that Tyler said," she spoke nervously. "I think I need to tell you first."

Stefan studied her face for a few seconds before slowly backing away. "Wow," he sighed as he began to rummage a hand through his hair. "I've been an absolute nervous wreck trying to figure out what I would say to you, and all the while you're thinking about your ex? What, did you two just get back together or something?"

"What? No!" she quickly countered, looking slightly shocked by Stefan's abrupt question.

"Because he's done nothing but hurt you, Caroline. Why are you even letting him back into your life? Why do you care what he has to say?"

"Because he's still my friend, Stefan. And, despite how crazy he was just acting, I think I should tell you about the weird memory curse he thinks we're all under."

"A memory curse?" he looked at her with a mix of amusement and unbelievable annoyance.

"I know it sounds crazy, but he said that we've all had our memories messed with, or whatever, and none of us can remember who we really are. Like that, apparently Damon is your brother and that he and Elena had some 'thing' together," she half-heartedly mocked.

Stefan shook his head in frustration. "You do see what he's trying to do right? You don't find it even a little bit strange that he's just now telling you this story right after he nearly interrupted us kissing? None of that occurred to you?"

"Well it obviously occurred to me, Stefan," she pleaded for his understanding. "But I felt like I should tell you, okay? I just don't want anything to happen between us that isn't one hundred percent genuine and real. If there is even the slightest possibility that we aren't remembering exactly who it is that we really are…then…. I don't know. I just don't want you to have any regrets."

Stefan paused, studying her face for a few seconds. Finally, nodding in understanding he stepped towards her. "This," he said, slowly touching her face, "is what I want. For me, there will never be any regrets." She smiled softly, tilting her face into his hand. "And when you can say the same thing, I hope you'll come and find me."

His words, previously so beautiful and perfect, now left her feeling like she'd just made the biggest mistake of her life. She wanted to take it all back. She wanted to change her mind and forget everything Tyler had manipulated her into considering, but before she could speak, before she could even blink, the sound of the door opening and closing behind her filled her ears.

The room was once again silent and empty. Stefan was gone.

Elena's POV:

Damon Salvatore was a mystery. He was a deep dark secret that was probably best kept untold, and yet, she couldn't help but feel deeply curious. There was just something about him that kept drawing her in, and even if she knew better, even if she could sense the impending heartbreak that would surely be their conclusion – she just couldn't seem to shake him.

She'd been attempting to distance herself from him all evening by taking the opportunity to mingle amongst her classmates, participate in mindless drinking games, and all the while prevent Enzo from preying on drunken Sorority girls, but it hadn't kept her eyes from occasionally scanning the room until they found him. He always seemed to know too. It hadn't mattered if he was in the middle of a conversation with Stefan, Ric or even another girl – his eyes always found hers the second they landed on him.

Most times she'd quickly look away, feeling slightly embarrassed for having gotten caught. Other times, she couldn't help but hold his gaze intensely. It was like his deep blue eyes could pierce her soul and instantly fill her stomach with gigantic, racing butterflies - slowly reminding her of a time when trivial things such as flirting and attraction actually mattered.

"You are officially the worst drinking partner and wingman one could ever have," groaned Enzo next to her as he casually flung the Ping-Pong ball into the beer-filled cup across the table. "But at least I'm good enough for the both of us that it doesn't really matter."

She rolled her eyes at him before grabbing the other ball from his hand, aiming and shooting it perfectly into the last remaining cup. "Hey, I'm good at beer pong. I'm practically a beer pong champ," she smirked and placed her hands on her hips as the team across from them drank their last two cups in defeat.

"Perhaps, but you'd be a lot better if you'd stop making googly-eyes at Damon and actually concentrate. I practically had to carry your ass the entire game."

"I'm not making 'googly-eyes.' I'm just observing," she mocked in his same annoying tone. "And how do you know Damon?"

"Well I know that this may come as a shock, but I do have other friends besides you lot,"

"That is quite shocking, yes," she smiled. "I had no idea we were friends."

"Anyway," he ignored her. "My mate down at the bar said Damon's been shacking up with your friend Liv for the last week. I heard they were getting pretty cozy if you know what I mean."

She quickly shook her head. "No, he just needed her help with something. Some spell to help his friend. He's not like, hooking-up with her or anything."

"He told you that?" grinned Enzo with that familiar, mischievous gleam in his eye.

Elena swallowed uncertainly before scanning the room again. As if on cue, Damon's eyes met hers as he carried on a conversation with Ric across the room. "It doesn't matter. He can do whatever he wants. It's not like we're dating or anything."

Enzo nodded. "Yeah, of course…. Which is why you look like someone just drove a stake through your heart."

"No I don't," she countered, quickly looking away from Damon and back to Enzo. "Seriously. I don't care."

She quickly grabbed the bottle of tequila that was sitting on the edge of their beer pong table, poured her a glass and shot it back in one quick movement.

"Right. I almost believe you," smirked Enzo. He quickly pulled the bottle of tequila from her hand just as she was attempting to pour herself another shot.

"What are you doing?" She demanded as she struggled to get it back.

"I'll make you a deal," he gleamed as he looked down at her. "You introduce me to your redheaded friend over there," he insinuated across the room to Laura, a girl she recognized from her Bioethics class, "and I'll help you test your prince charming's true feelings."

"I don't need or want to test his feelings." But as she said it, she couldn't help but feel slightly curious. "Besides, Laura would never go for you."

"Well there's only one way to find out," he challenged as he stepped closer to her. She wanted to step back, but the feeling of Damon's eyes upon them suddenly had her feeling enticed to go along with Enzo's completely ridiculous plan. She knew it was stupid. He wasn't going to get jealous. He wasn't going to care that Enzo was currently touching her face and looking deeply into her eyes or that his other hand was trailing slowly and annoyingly down her left arm causing her to want nothing more than to break his fingers…

"Elena?"

Apparently Ric had found the scene much more questionable than Damon.

"Well this is interesting."

Maybe not. She turned to see them both suddenly standing next to her – Ric looking like he might be on the verge of punching Enzo and Damon looked slightly… amused.

"I thought I warned you," threatened Ric as he approached Enzo.

"It's my fault," Elena quickly defended, stepping between them. "We were just messing around. Testing a theory actually," she smiled looking back at Enzo. "It wasn't what it looked like."

"Oh yeah? What theory was that?" Damon smirked with an arched eyebrow as Enzo winked at her.

She blushed slightly with a small shrug and a grin.

"Well sorry for the interruption, pal," Damon patted Enzo on the back, "but I think I'm gonna have to steal her for a bit." He turned to look back at Elena, arm extended. "May I?"

She nodded as she quickly gave a reassuring nod to Ric and an appreciative grin to Enzo before taking his arm. As he led her across the room and towards the front door, she took the time to pause as they passed Laura, and after a quick "hey, have you met my friend, Enzo?" and a wink back over her shoulder at him, she followed Damon out the door.

The rain was officially falling, but the covered porch left them remaining nice and dry. The streets of their neighborhood, which had previously been filled with trick-or-treaters and the comings and goings of their party guests, was now abandoned and only held the sounds of the pattering rain against the deserted sidewalks. They took a seat on the front porch steps, remaining silent as they both observed and appreciated the sight.

"I'm sorry about, Enzo," she said with a slight laugh, though unsure why she felt the need to apologize.

"Well I probably had it coming," he said through a small smile.

Elena's mind wandered back to what Enzo had said earlier. "And why is that?"

"It's…" he sighed, "a bit complicated."

She nodded, feeling slightly annoyed by his non-answer. "Why? Because of Liv?"

He looked at her, confusion in his face. "What about Liv?"

"It's fine," she lied. "I already know. And it's not a big deal." Another lie.

He tilted his head, clearly unsure of what question to ask first. "You know, what exactly?"

Oddly enough, he sounded almost hopeful. "About you and Liv," she finished, giving him a strange look. "It's fine if you're like, together or whatever, but you coulda told me. You didn't have to blow me off for four days."

Damon stared at her for a slight second before suddenly laughing in amusement. "You think that me and Liv….," he continued to chuckle, unable to finish his question. "I'm sorry… you think there's something going on between Liv and me?"

Elena couldn't help but grin, feeling awkward. "Well, you have been staying with her, right?"

"Yeah because she's helping me, remember? She's kind of a big deal to my oh-so very important plan to save my friend. Ring any bells?"

Elena laughed as she placed her head in her hands feeling stupid for having jumped to conclusions and even stupider for having appeared jealous. "Ugh," she groaned. "I'm sorry. That's officially the last time I'm ever helping Enzo."

"Hey, it's fine," Damon shrugged arrogantly. "Jealousy looks good on you."

She shook her head. "For the record, I am not a jealous person," she sighed as she moved her hands behind her to lean back on them. "It's just that lately, everything has almost been feeling…" she paused searching for the word.

"What?"

"Too good to be true," she finished.

He smiled – that same devilishly handsome smile that made her heart instantly start racing. "I know this might surprise you, but you are actually allowed to be happy, Elena."

She nodded appreciatively, but still felt unconvinced.

"Can I tell you a secret?" She said softly, almost nervously, as she leaned forward again, placing her hands on her drawn up knees. He nodded, tilting his head to look at her. "I know this is going to sound really crazy, or really depressing, or pessimistic or whatever, but… I actually don't know if I am allowed to be happy."

He eyed her curiously. "What do you mean?"

"I know it sounds crazy, but…" she fidgeted with her hands for a moment. "It's just that lately, I feel like something is missing. It's like every time I've caught myself feeling happy or excited this last week, it's felt sort of wrong, you know? Almost like I'm forgetting something that I should be feeling sad about? It's like there is this unexplained emptiness in my heart where pain used to be, but now just doesn't exist…"

"That sounds like healing, Elena," said Damon reassuringly as he placed a hand upon her fidgeting one. "It sounds like you're just moving on."

"But see, that's the thing," she said suddenly pulling away and standing to her feet. "It's like I've forgotten what it feels like to be sad, and I think I still need to feel sad; I still need to feel that brokenness that comes from losing someone… but I can't, and I don't know why…" She took a deep breath as she watched him stand to meet her at eye level. "I know. I sound like a crazy person right now," she laughed nervously.

"Maybe a little," he teased playfully before nodding sincerely. "The funny thing about pain is that, even when we think we've healed and moved on, it still has a way of sneaking back up on us every once in a while."

She shook her head slowly. "No. I don't mean like that. This isn't just me feeling guilty for healing or for no longer grieving over my parents, or even my Aunt Jenna. This is something else. It's like I'm forgetting something, and until I can remember it, I don't deserve to be happy about anything else."

She'd half expected Damon to have left her alone by now. After all, what guy wanted to stick around and try and console a girl's irrational, paranoid ramblings? At the very least, she'd expected him to continue with his niceties until he could find Ric or Caroline to pawn her off too. But that wasn't what happened next.

Instead, he was suddenly standing directly in front of her. His hands on her face, his lips inches away from hers, his eyes watching her with such intensity she thought she might melt beneath them. "Elena," her name rolled off of his lips with such passion she felt paralyzed and desperate to close the small gap between them, "you deserve to be happy. You deserve to get every single thing you've ever wanted from life, and no matter what happens next," he said almost sadly, "don't ever, ever forget that."

She felt breathless as she studied the sincerity in his face and the tenderness in his eyes. "How do you do that?" she whispered softly, her heart beginning to race. "You don't even know me, and yet, you seem to always know exactly what to say."

The small smile he gave her suddenly had her feeling lightheaded and desirous. Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was just the vividly erotic images that still lingered from her dreams, but something had come over her. She didn't just want to kiss him. She wanted him. After all, this was a party, right? She was drunk. He was hot… and sweet… and so, so sexy. And honestly, why the hell not?

She decided to go for it.

Her lips were suddenly crashing against his with desire and urgency. He seemed slightly taken aback but quickly returned the kiss, his tongue meeting hers, as she pressed her body into him and tangled her fingers into his dark locks. She felt herself being suddenly pressed against the wall of the house as his hand trailed along her side and down to her hips.

He seemed content to just kiss her, but she wanted more. As his lips left hers and found their way to her neck she whispered against his ear, "let's go upstairs."

He grinned as he slowly pulled back to look at her. Before he could speak she pulled him back, continuing the kiss as her hand began to teasingly tug at the hem of his shirt until it had slowly eased it's way under to find his perfectly toned chest.

"Elena," he pleaded in-between the passionate kisses. She ignored him as she suddenly pulled away, taking his hand in an attempt to lead him back inside. However, he quickly pulled her back, remaining frozen where he stood.

"What's wrong?" she asked breathlessly, looking back at him slightly confused.

"Nothing's wrong," he quickly assured, running his hands along her face. "This is perfect. You're perfect…it's just that…." He let out a groan of frustration. "God, I can't believe I'm about to say this, but… we can't."

She tilted her head in bewilderment. "Are you serious?"

"Elena, there are still just so many things I want to tell you, but I can't. You wouldn't understand... and I can't do this with you until you do."

She stepped back from him, looking slightly offended. "What wouldn't I understand?" He looked unsure how to answer, so just remained silent. "What are you not telling me?"

He sighed. "There are things about us that are complicated; things that you can't remember." He leaned in, pressing his forehead to hers as his hand began to tug disappointedly at her dress. "And as much as I would love nothing more than to spend this entire night reminding you in explicit detail of all the things I can make your body feel," he paused, studying her breathless expression, "I can't."

As he slowly pulled away, she gaped at him in sudden understanding, feeling slightly angry. "You know something, don't you?" He watched her nervously. "You know why I'm feeling like this; why I'm walking around feeling like a complete lunatic for thinking that I've forgotten something important. You know! What are you keeping from me?"

"Elena, I'm trying to help you, okay?" He quickly pleaded. "I'm trying to fix everything. I'm trying to save Bonnie and get your memories back, but I need you to trust me, okay?"

"My memories? Damon, what are you talking about? How can I trust you when you won't talk to me? I don't even know you and now you're obviously keeping some huge secret from me!" She tried to keep from yelling, but it was difficult. "Damon, if you know something you have to tell me!"

"Elena, I can't!" He shouted back at her. She jumped slightly at the harshness of his voice.

Obviously feeling guilty, he quickly moved to take her hand, looking into her eyes, pleading for her to understand. "I can't because I don't want to just tell you. I want you to know. I need you to remember for yourself. I need you to come back to me," he implored as his hands again cradled her face. "Because to just tell you that you are my world, that I love you more that I have ever loved another person in my entire life, that I would cross realms for you and bare this insufferable path of you not even knowing who I am just so I can be near you…. To just tell you those things wouldn't be enough. I need you to come back to me."

Her heart was suddenly racing with fear, doubt and confusion. She didn't want to trust him; he was, after all, a complete stranger suddenly professing his undying love to a girl he'd just met, and yet, she couldn't help it. Maybe it was the desperation in his eyes… or maybe, it was just that she knew, deep down, that something truly was missing – and maybe, she wondered, feeling foolish - he was the only way she was going to find it.

"Show me," she suddenly heard herself whispering. "If you really do care about me, then you'll prove it." When he continued to shake his head, she placed a pleading hand on his chest. "Please?"

He studied her for a moment, understanding her questions and nervously considering her request. He was obviously hesitant, possibly fearful of her reaction to what the truth might mean, but nonetheless, he brought his hand up to her temple, his lips to hers and whispered, "okay."

The porch, the rain, the party, and all of Whitmore completely disappeared as she relaxed beneath his touch and pushed aside her racing thoughts, allowing her mind to become unguarded and open to him.

It was late - the middle of the night. They were somewhere on an abandoned road….no wait. Not just any road. They were near Wickery Bridge…

And there he stood; looking just as gorgeous as always and dressed almost identical to his present day self, leather jacked and dark t-shirt included.

"So Damon, tell me. What is it that I want?" She watched her past-self challenge with a gleam in her eye. He studied her closely for a moment, before slowly approaching her. "You want a love that consumes you. You want passion. An adventure… and even a little danger," he smirked.

The scene dissolved almost as quickly as it had begun, leaving her gasping and slightly terrified. "What the hell was that?" He did not even attempt to answer, however, before he was once again pulling her close and drawing her into another memory. But this time, there wasn't just one precise moment or scene. Instead, she saw and heard a quick replaying of several moments, each one happening so fast and transforming so rapidly they became blended with the next.

"I just have to say it once. You just need to hear it. I love you, Elena. And it's because I love you that… I can't be selfish with you."

"No one tells me how I live my life. No one tells me who I love. Especially not some vindictive, prehistoric witch and definitely not the universe. And I'm not gonna let someone else's idea of destiny stop me from loving you or being with you or building a future with you because… you are my life."

"You lied to me," she watched herself sobbing as she leaned against an old concrete wall.

"Even if I wanted to apologize, you couldn't hear me, so I won't."

"Please don't leave me," she begged through hysterical sobbing.

"I don't have a choice, baby," he said softly as he touched her face. "You are, by far, the greatest thing to ever happen to me in my one hundred and seventy three years on this earth. The fact that I get to die knowing that I was loved, and not just by anyone, but by you, Elena Gilbert. It's the epitome of a fulfilled life."

She watched herself sink to the ground as grief and pain overtook her. She watched as Damon followed her lead and kneeled before her.

"It's never gonna get any better than this," he spoke sadly. "I've peaked." Damon continued to watch her as she continued to sob in total despair, before gently touching her face one more time. "I love you Elena."

"Please come back to me."

She didn't think she could take another second. Her head was exploding with fear and confusion, her heart with indescribable pain and sorrow. Damon slowly lowered his hand, watching her nervously as the panic filled her eyes. Her breath quickened as she took a step back from him, shaking her head in doubt.

"No," she whispered in shock. "That's not possible. How did you do that? It's not possible," she repeated again.

"You know that it is," he said softly. "You know because you trust me, even though you have no idea why…. You know, because deep down, you know that this," he quickly took her hand and squeezed it as he pressed it against his heart, "is real. This is what you've been missing, Elena." He quickly squeezed her hand tighter. "Please, tell me you remember it?"

Her heart was racing out of her chest as she stared at him transfixed. She wanted to believe him; she wanted to believe that a love so passionate, so strong, and so beautiful had once belonged to her; she wanted to believe that there really was someone out there, someone like Damon, who would go to such incredible lengths all just to win her heart and affection.

But the problem, just as Damon had said it would be, was that she couldn't remember them. The memories – if that's truly what they were – were not hers. They did not belong to her…. And despite how incredibly romantic and heartbreaking and powerful they were… they never would. The emotion that had surrounded them, though still impactful, had only felt like the watching of a terribly sad movie. And this particular character, unfortunately, was not her.

"I'm sorry," she said as she slowly released his hand and took a step back. "But I think you have it all wrong. That's not me. It can't be."

"Elena," he pleaded.

"I think it's probably best if we don't see each other anymore," she interrupted. The words fell from her lips so rapidly she almost wasn't sure she had even said them. And as the look of hurt flooded Damon's face, she felt herself immediately regretting them. "I just can't be that person. Whoever that was, that's not me. Those aren't my memories and you're obviously in love with her and you don't deserve to be in love with someone like me who will never be able to love you like…that."

"Ouch."

They both quickly turned behind them at the sound of a new and unfamiliar voice.

"That was harsh," continued the woman as she slyly approached them. "But I can't say I didn't see it coming."

Damon suddenly stepped in front of Elena protectively as the woman moved closer. "Lucy," he spoke through gritted teeth.

"Nice to see you again, Damon," she smiled as she placed a hand on her hip, watching them in amusement. "I think that you and I are way overdue for a nice chat, wouldn't you say?"