Here's the next chapter!

Hope you guys enjoy :)

Elijah left Damon with a lot to think about.

Elena was going to get the chance to be human again, given that everything worked out.

In order to do the spell, Elijah had told him, a few things would be required.
One would be the witchy bloodline.

Sheila, Elijah's witch…and her granddaughter, who was none other than Bonnie Bennett.

The only issue was that, as far as Damon knew, his little slave girl wasn't a witch.
Or at least, she hadn't come into her powers yet.

But apparently it was Bennett magic that helped seal the vampire creation ritual, and therefore only Bennett magic that could undo it.
Sheila Bennett had promised to help, and to assist Bonnie with her powers, under one condition.

She wanted Damon to free the girl.
It wasn't a hard choice really, seeing as his alternative to the entire situation was the board executing the love of his life.
So he'd had Bonnie called into the room.

The girl had been so happy to see her grandmother that she'd barely acknowledged that the governor was there.
But as soon as she had noticed Elijah, it had been certain that something was going on.

She was quick to listen, as Damon explained everything about the situation, and had admitted that while she didn't hone any known abilities, she was willing to do anything to save her friend.
Damon admired her for that.

It was almost an hour ago that they'd left, Bonnie going with Elijah and her grandmother, yet he was still in his office.
He didn't have it in him to face Elena yet.

But of course, she was never the patient type, and a few moments later, a knock was at his door, and he could tell from the scent that flooded in that it was her waiting on the other side.

He sighed, before calling, "Come in."
The door opened, and Elena, clad in only a silk bathrobe stepped inside.

"You've been gone a while," she noted.
He nodded, looking up from his chair.

She moved closer, coming to lean against the edge of his desk, "How bad is it, Damon?"

He hated the fear in her voice, and knew that she deserved to know the truth.
But he also knew that there was no way she'd ever agree to what had to be done.

He exhaled, standing.
"Elena," he moved to stand in front of her, "There were some…complications. But, the board decided to let you live."

The relief on her face was evident, but then her expression clouded again, "What about you…and Klaus?"
Damon sighed.
She deserved to know. It was her life.

"Klaus is going to be banished. The board is convinced that he killed you, and have punished him accordingly. I am, for all intent, unaffected. My position remains."
A smile spread across her face, "But that's good news, Damon! Isn't it?"

He nodded, "Yes, of course…but there are certain requirements that must be met for this to happen."
She blinked, "Requirements?"

He eyed her, "Elena, they found a way for you to be human again."
Confusion overcame her, "What? How is that possible?"

"A complex spell, which requires a bloodline of witches. Elijah has a witch…and her granddaughter…Bonnie."
Elena's eyebrows shot up, "Bonnie's a witch?!"

"Dormant until now," he explained, "but she has gone with her grandmother, and will learn to perform the spell."

Elena's head was shaking, "Bonnie left?"
"I freed her," he told her, "As payment for her and her grandmother's help in this."

Elena blinked, "But…if I'm human again…how are we supposed to-"

She trailed off, and Damon's chest constricted.
She was worried about how they would work out, if she was human again.

Come on, just tell her the rest.

He focused on her chocolate gaze, "Elena…there's another part to all of this."

She waited, so he continued, "Once the spell is complete, and you are human again, the board wants you to be removed from my influence. They fear that if you stay with me, I'll turn you again, and we'll be right back where we started."

"So what does that mean for us?" she asked quietly.
"You won't be listed as my slave anymore," he sighed, "You'll be removed from our home, and placed in Elijah's care."

She shook her head, "They can't do that! I can stay here, as a human if they require…they don't have to make me leave! I'll behave, I swear! I'll do anything you ask, any chore! Just please-"

"Elena," he commanded, grabbing her face, "It isn't you. This has nothing to do with you, kitten. It's prevention on my behalf. I'm upcoming as governor, and they don't want any risks to linger in the background. I'd change it if I could, kitten, I promise you I would…but I can't. It's either this, or they kill you…and I couldn't live with myself if you were to die."

She sighed, "So we'll bide our time then. We'll still see each other in town, and I'm sure Elijah wouldn't mind if we visited. This doesn't have to be over, Damon."

He wanted to agree, to feed her hope, but he knew a cleaner break would be better for her.
He had to be honest.

"Elena, it's not going to work that way…they don't want us together…at all. And Elijah is respecting their choice. But he'll keep you safe, make sure that you're taken care of."

Her mouth opened, then closed again as she worked out what she wanted to say.
Finally she just stated, "No."

"Elena-"

"No, Damon," she cut him off, "I refuse to let them control us. I love you. I love you and you love me. They can't do this."
He closed his eyes for a moment, then looked at her, "Kitten, I don't want it this way any more than you do, but they could have killed you. Instead, they agreed to this. I have to keep you alive."

"But I don't want to live without you in my life."
"It won't matter," he insisted.

She blinked, "What do you mean?"

He bit his lip, but finally told her the final of the information.
"The board plans on having you compelled once you're human…you won't even remember that I exist."

That had her jumping to her feet, "What?!"

He sighed, but she had already started talking, "No! That goes against some kind of personal violation, doesn't it?! They can't do this! Damon, they can't! You can't let them, please!"

He pulled her into him as tears sprang from her eyes, "I love you, kitten, just know that."
"No," she whispered, "How can you just give up? After everything! How can you let this happen?!"

He tightened his grip on her, "I'm sorry, Elena. But I can't let you die…and they'll kill you if I didn't agree to this. It's your best option…you'll have a normal life."

She pulled back, staring into his eyes, "Don't you get it, Damon…I'd rather be dead than forget you…let them have me. If that's the alternative, then I'd rather they just kill me."
He grabbed her arms, "How can you say that?!"
"How can you not?!" she declared, "I love you, Damon. I won't let them take that away from me."

Their gazes locked, and he knew what that her stubborn look meant that she wasn't going to drop this.
She'd fight it until she couldn't fight anymore…and she'd die.

Making up his mind, he knew what he had to do.
Even if he hated it.

"Elena…you're going to let this go. You are going to be human, and you are going to let them compel you to forget me. You'll move on, and you'll be happy, with a normal life, once this is all over. This is what's best for you."

"But Damon-"

"No, Elena…this is what I want. This is what will make me happy. It's what I want you to do…this is what you have to do."

She blinked, and he could almost literally watch the sire bond take effect.
"This is really what you want?" she questioned with a small voice.

He nodded, "It is…but I also want you happy. I want you not to worry about this…all you need to concern yourself with is enjoying the time you have left here, with me."

Her eyes were still focused, but something changed in them, and her hands released his arm.
"Elena?"

She sighed, "You're right…we should just enjoy the time we have."

He nodded, even though guilt swarmed his stomach, "That's right kitten, we're just going to enjoy it."

A hesitant smile crossed her lips as she slipped her hands around his waist.
"Then what do you say we go back to the room and enjoy it?"

A tempting offer, of course, but he was already feeling bad about invoking the sire bond, of taking her true opinion and emotions away and replacing them with this fascade.

"Actually, there's a few things here I still need to finish," he excused, offering her a smile, "But I'll join you later."
A grin crossed her lips, "Why rush? Here is just as good as the bedroom."

Before he could respond, she had pushed him back, into his chair and was crawling into his lap.
"Elena, we shouldn't-"

But her lips were hot on his as she grinded down against him, and his will faltered.
There was only a little time left to be with her.
Until the witches were ready, and the spell could be done.
Then she'd be gone forever.

He began kissing her back, and she moaned contently.

He couldn't help being selfish with her…not when he was going to lose her so soon after.
He loved her too much.
Needed her too much.

She ripped off his shirt, kissing down his neck.
"I love you," she breathed, her lips trailing behind his ear.

His breath caught, "I love you too, kitten, so much."

She leaned back, untying the robe, and he ran his hands down her side, kissing along her collarbone, using his blunt teeth against her skin.
Her hands ran through his hair, and he picked her up, placing her on his desk.

With a little pressure, he forced her onto her back, and slid the robe off of her completely.
"You are so beautiful."

She smiled, reaching forward to unbutton his pants.
Within moments he was kicking his jeans off, and she was wrapping her legs around his waist.

"Just get inside me, Damon."
He would have laughed at her impatience, if it wasn't for the fact that he felt the same way.

They were on borrowed time.

He slowly pushed into her, and her eyes closed.
He thrusted at a steady pace, wanting to savor this feeling.

Every part of her responded to him, as her newbie vampire drive kicked in, and she pulled him down, claiming his mouth.
He sped up then, responding to her frantic motions.

"Damon," she moaned.
He let his head drop into her neck, closing his eyes, holding on to this moment with everything he had.

She cried out beneath him, and he felt his fangs elongate.
Nuzzling her skin, he suckled the base of her throat, before sinking his teeth in.

Elena got wetter, and he gripped her hips, quickening his thrusts.
Within seconds she was spazzing underneath him, all of her emotions evident in the blood that he consumed from her.

He slipped a hand between them, rubbing her clit furiously.
She came, his name torn from her mouth as she convulsed around him, and he lifted his head to watch her face as she fell apart.

Her eyes were squeezed shut, her mouth opened in a perfect "o" shape, revealing her fangs.
She'd never been sexier, and he felt his own climax at the sight.

He buckled against her, riding it out, until they were both out of breath.

After a moment, he pulled his jeans back up and moved to the chair, pulling her into his lap.
She settled into him, and his arms locked around her.

"I'm going to miss you, Elena," he breathed, kissing her forehead.
He felt her lips press into his chest, before exhaling, "Maybe they can make you forget too."

Ha.
As if it were that easy.

Though technically she was right.
Elijah had the ability to compel him, and the man probably would, if Damon asked, but he couldn't.

Because he'd rather suffer the pain than live happily having never known this beautiful woman.
Unfortunately, that wasn't a choice Elena got to make.

But she would get to live.

And for him, that's all that mattered.

What did you guys think?

A little sad, I know, sorry lol, but the story will move on soon!

Please please review!