Disclaimer: I do not own TVD or anything associated with it!

SO. This is one of my favorite episodes simply because of Damon's confession at the end. I tried to find a way to split this into two parts so it wouldn't be so long but I just couldn't. So, it's a very long chapter. Sorry to those of you that like shorter chapters, you're welcome to those that don't. Lol. Anyway, of course, big shout outs to my awesome reviewers: Natchez, Kina Kalamari, nallemorin (as always ;), and Dani! You guys rock! Also, thank you so much to the new followers and favorites! You guys are amazing! Happy New Year!

Elena's POV

It's no secret that the world is a random, surprising, and often scary place. For the most part, we realize on a daily basis that there are many things out of our control. Maybe not consciously, but we understand that we can't change how fast traffic moves (even if we yell really loudly) or whether or not someone loves us and vice versa. We know that we have no direct control of gas prices and whether our mail will arrive on time.

Still, through advancements, we've become used to being able to watch movies on demand, to pay with the swipe of a card, to buy presents with the push of a button without ever setting foot inside a store. And maybe it's because of that technology and evolution that makes us feel like we have at least some sense of power in our lives. And it's that illusion of power that leaves us blindsided when something completely and utterly out of our control happens… like when your car goes over the edge of a bridge and panic floods in with the water that's filling and burning your lungs and, no matter how hard you push on the door, it won't open… like when you witness a child running in front of a car but the car is moving too fast and you're too far away, too slow, to get to them… like when you see your loved ones face and believe that you'll see them tomorrow, so you don't say all the things you should and, then, you run out of tomorrows. There is no word for the combination of regret, shock, and fear that make up the crushing realization that we are, in fact, completely helpless.

That's what's on my mind as I look across the empty rooms of the abandoned house I woke up in. I am helpless. I have run out of tomorrows. But, this is what I wanted, isn't it? To be in danger all by myself. And even though I fear death, I know from experience that it's the people you leave behind that really die. A part of them, at least. There was a part of me that died when I lost my parents and no amount of time or 'healing' can ever bring it back. And I fear that, if—when—I die, that will happen to Jenna and Jeremy, Damon, Bonnie, Caroline or Matt. Maybe even Stefan. I fear for them more than I fear for myself. But maybe I'm giving myself too much credit. Maybe it's presumptuous to believe that I could affect another person so completely. After all, Damon, Stefan, and Caroline really do have forever to heal.

Damon's POV

"So, Sarah attacks Tyler and he pushed her away and she tripped and she fell and she hit her head."

"Does Matt remember anything?"

Because all we need is another person in this town that knows about us…

"Mmm. He thinks he blacked out. But I think they were both compelled by Katherine."

That makes sense. She mentioned something last night about Mason not being the only wolf in town. For whatever reason, she obviously needs a wolf that's curse has been triggered instead of Tyler's pre-wolf state. I still don't know what for but compelling humans to do her dirty work and get killed so the curse is triggered… that's definitely up Katherine's alley. She's a bitch like that. Let's just hope that accidental killings don't count. And how did Barbie put this all together? She's good for a lot of things but thinking isn't usually one of them.

"That's why I covered for Tyler and said it was an accident." Caroline finishes, grabbing her stuff for school.

"Yeah, I don't get that. The guy's a tool."

"Well, gee, duh. Tyler getting blamed for Sarah's death just opens up questions that he can't answer. Do you really think it's a good idea for him to tell his mom he's a werewolf?"

"Well, no."

Obviously.

"And that Werewolf Road leads straight to Vampire Boulevard. I thought I was thinking fast on my feet."

"Where's your mom?"

She wraps a scarf around her neck and looks at my reflection in the mirror.

"Leading the search party for Aimee Bradley. They haven't found her body yet."

Oh, yeah. Katherine's latest victim.

"Oh, teens today and their underage drinking. Tragic." I sigh and look her over. "Wait. Did Tyler's eyes turn yellow?"

"Mmmm. More gold with amber highlights."

"Oh."

I guess accidental killings do count. Bummer.

"Can he turn into a wolf now?"

"Only on a full moon. But he has increased strength and who knows what else. I wonder how much Mason told him. Does he know about us?"

She picks up her phone and starts texting.

"Hey! What did you tell him?"

"Nothing, really. I don't think he knows much of anything. He seemed really freaked out and, honestly, I felt kind of bad for him." She says as she walks past me towards the front door.

She feels bad for him? Really? The werewolf that could kill us or expose us? He probably would the second he got a chance, too, just like his pest of an uncle. And, if he tries, he'll end up the same way: heartless and rotting in the woods somewhere.

"Well, he's got to know something."

"Alright. I'll ask him."

I flash to block her way out and look into her eyes.

"No, you won't, Caroline. He cannot know about us. A bite from a werewolf can kill a vampire, so don't be his friend. Do you understand me?"

"I understand." She drops her gaze from mine and I know she's nervous.

Good. Maybe she'll be nervous enough to actually listen.

"I'm late for school."

"Right." I step out of the way to let her head to the bane that is high school. "Caroline?"

She stops at the door but doesn't turn. "What?"

"Have you talked to Elena?"

She turns. Is that amusement I see in her eyes? Please, tell me that's not amusement.

"No, Damon, I haven't. She's probably at school where she's supposed to be… where I should be."

"Right." I say, again. "Well, if you want to drop the hint to your mom that Aimee's body is at the bottom of a ravine with a cracked spine, it might save her some time."

She doesn't respond, just walks out without looking at me like I've done something wrong.

What? I didn't kill this one. For once.

"Jeremy."

He turns to look at me and rolls his eyes.

God, I hate teenagers. Being around them constantly reminds me of why I'm glad I can't procreate. I don't include Elena in that group because she isn't an insufferable pain in my ass… most of the time.

"Damon. What are you doing here? Aren't you a little old for high school?"

"Ha ha ha. Hilarious. Actually, I'm looking for Elena."

He grabs his backpack and turns to walk to class.

"What, all night wasn't enough time for you guys?"

He stops suddenly and turns with his serious face on.

"Seriously, though. You guys need to let me know if I'm supposed to cover for her. Jenna may not want you dead for dating Elena but it doesn't mean she's okay with her staying over."

"What are you talking about? Elena didn't stay with me last night. We're… taking a break."

His faces goes white.

"Her bed hadn't been slept in this morning and Mrs. Lockwood said her car was still in the driveway. I just assumed she was with you."

"No, she wasn't. So, where the hell is she?"

I call her cell and run through everything in my head again.

I was talking with Elena out behind the Lockwood's house. The party was over and everyone was leaving but there she was, waiting on me out by the pond. She looked horrible, the back of her pink shirt completely soaked in blood, but she was being stubborn and wouldn't take my blood to heal up. We semi-argued, I kissed her, told her I loved her, and I walked away.

I was pissed and preoccupied and I thought that, maybe, giving her time would allow her to see that things can be simple, even if they aren't always easy. I remember hearing her footsteps on the grass and then on the pavement, half-dragging from exhaustion. Her phone rang and she told Jeremy she was fine and was going home to go to bed. But I never heard the car start. I never even heard the door open. I also didn't hear a struggle, but she was weak. She wouldn't have been able to fight off anyone.

She never made it home. I got in my car, tossed Katherine in the tomb, and convinced myself not to check on her for once… and she never made it home. If I'd swung by afterwards, I could have had a much bigger start on finding her. Now, all I know is she wasn't with Caroline, she wasn't at home, she wasn't at the boarding house and she's not at school, now. So, where is she?

I slam the front door to the boarding house.

"Stefan! Get your ass down here!"

"Why are you here, again, Damon? Two days in a row? Elena must be pretty pissed at you."

I grit my teeth to stop myself from knocking the smug look off his face.

"She's missing… which you would know if you would answer your damn phone."

"What do you mean missing?"

Ah, that got his attention. See, no matter how much he claims to hate me and Elena for everything we've done, he still loves her. You can't let go of a love like that overnight no matter how badly you might want to. Hell, it took me 145 years to get over Katherine and we all know what a nasty little slut she is.

"I mean, she never went home last night after the party. She and I talked at the Lockwood's and she wanted some… time. So, she left, I left and dropped of Katherine at the tomb and came home. Only, Jeremy says that her bed wasn't slept in last night and her car is still at the Lockwood's. She wasn't with Caroline and Bonnie left with Jeremy. So, I mean that she is missing."

He shakes his head.

"This has Katherine written all over it."

"Have you been listening to me? Katherine is in the tomb." Shit. "But she did say something to me right before I shut her in. I thought she was lying."

"And? What did she say?"

"Elena's in danger."

He looks at me in shock.

"And you didn't think you should ask her to elaborate?"

"Everything she says is a lie! How am I supposed to know when she's going to start spouting out the truth?"

He shakes his head and I can see that look in his eye that says he wants to do something stupid.

"We have to go talk to her."

And there it is. Has he lost his mind? All she's going to do is convince us that she will help as long as we let her out… and we'll do it to save Elena and, then, she'll kill us. No, I'm not risking it. More than likely, she doesn't know anything, anyway. I tell Stefan I'll find my own way to get Elena home and walk out. Maybe Witchy will help a brother out.

Elena's POV

There are people talking in the other room. Well, arguing, actually, though I can't tell about what. I've seen two people since I've been here, one woman and one man, both clearly vampires. I've not seen anyone else but that doesn't mean there's no one else here. Still, I have to try something to get out. No one knows where I am. I don't even know where I am and my earlier bravery is starting to wear off.

My phone is missing so I can't call anyone… not that I could tell them where to go anyway. So, my only option is to try to find a door and run out, praying that it's daylight and they don't have daylight rings, which I'm guessing they don't since most of the windows have been boarded up. My stomach knots at the thought of trying to escape them but I don't think they'll kill me. I have a feeling that they need to keep me alive for some reason. It wouldn't make much sense to kidnap someone that's just a meal. I also have a feeling that this has something to do with me looking like Katherine. The woman vampire mentioned her when I woke up the first time… before she knocked me out again.

I stand, cringing at the ache deep in my muscles, tip toe to the open door and down the hallway, barely breathing for fear of being too loud.

"Did you or did you not get the message to Elijah?" The man says, obviously upset.

"They say he got it."

There's the woman from earlier.

I slow my steps as there's a pause.

"So?"

"So, that's it, Trevor. He either got it or he didn't. We just have to wait."

"Look, it's not too late. We can leave her here. We don't have to go through with this."

They seem preoccupied so I take another few slow steps.

"I'm sick of running."

"Oh, yeah? Well, running keeps us from dying."

"Elijah is old school. If he accepts our deal, we're free."

I bite my lip and take another step, stilling as the floor creaks.

"You!" The woman screams.

She's beside me in a second.

"There's nothing around here for miles. If you think you're getting out of this house, you're tragically wrong, understand?"

I should let her go but my curiosity gets the better of me.

"Who's Elijah?"

She stops.

"He's your worst nightmare."

Damon's POV

"Damon, I couldn't lift the tomb spell, even if I wanted to."

"Good. I don't want you to. Now, tell that to my little bro so we can move on and find an actual way to get to Elena."

Bonnie looks at Stefan, who heroically decided to come with me to find our ex-girlfriend. I think I see pity in her expression and, from the anger in Stefan's, I assume he sees the same.

"Stefan… it took me and my Grams both to do it the first time."

"But I can open the door and talk to her, right?"

I roll my eyes.

"And, what? She's going to give us information out of the kindness of her heart? Come on, Stefan."

"Though it pains me to say this, Damon is right, Stefan. She's not going to tell you anything without something in return."

"Thank you, Bonnie." I say sweetly.

She glares at me then turns back to Stefan with the same sympathetic look.

"But I think I might be able to help."

So, according to Witchy, Elena is on the outskirts of some rinky-dink town called Reidsville, NC. I don't know why she'd be there or who would take her there, but it's the only lead we've got. So, Stefan and I grabbed some blood bags, threw the bag of weapons from Alaric in my backseat, and set out to save our damsel in distress.

We've been driving for a while now and it's not any less awkward than it was 200 miles ago. It feels strange, being in this car with Stefan on our way to save Elena after everything that's happened. Small talk is what seems to be getting us through this car ride but I have a feeling that's all about to change. There always has to be some kind of soul searching before we face the big, bad, dangerous whatever it is out there. That's how it always goes.

"So, Alaric sure likes his weapons." I say, awkwardly, still making with the small talk. "What the hell is that?"

He turns the item over in his hands.

"Well, it's a vervain bomb or grenade launcher or something like that."

"Weird."

And there goes that topic.

"How much further is it?"

About 20 miles less than the last time you asked me.

"About 80 miles."

"Who do you think took her?"

I've been wondering that myself.

"Someone from Katherine's past. She said she was running from someone. Maybe they got the wrong girl."

My phone beeps and I open it up. It's from Bonnie, a picture of some big house out in the middle of nowhere with a map attached. I throw the phone to Stefan so he can type in the address on the GPS and I push down a little harder on the gas pedal. Last time I was in a car for this long, the miles seemed to go by much faster. Elena was in the passenger seat beside me instead of Stefan and we were in Georgia. We had so much fun, laughing, drinking (illegally for her), and eating. You know, then, I was almost burned to death and I had to kill a witch but, overall, it's a good memory. She saved my life that night. It was one of the first nights I realized just how much she'd taken a hold on me.

"What are you thinking about?"

I look over at Stefan, still kind of distracted.

"Um, nothing. Just thinking about Elena. Thanks. For helping, I mean."

He raises his eyebrows.

"Well, I mean, you and Elena haven't exactly been on the best terms. You and I haven't exactly been on the best terms. But you're helping me save her. So… thanks."

He nods.

"No matter what's going on between us, I could never just let her die." He looks me over and sighs, dropping his eyes to his lap. "No matter what, I can't help it. I still love her."

Elena's POV

I feel like I've been here forever. The man, Trevor, and the woman whose name I still don't know are moving around the house almost frantically. They seem nervous and it's making me curious. What could possibly scare a vampire this badly? And what does it have to do with me?

I watch the woman move around the room, tidying the place in a way that's completely futile, seeing as fallen wallpaper pieces litter the floor and there seems to be a must in the air that clings to your mouth with every breath. I hope there's not asbestos in here. Though, I'm sure that's the least of my worries.

According to my kidnappers, there is a vampire named Elijah who is one of 'the Originals' that is going to take me and use me as a sacrifice to break the Curse of the Sun and the Moon… because I'm a 'Petrova Doppelganger'. The book that Damon gave me on Katherine's history says that was her original last name. So, I was right. This does have to do with Katherine. Out of our lives and she's still making them a living hell.

I know how selfish and contradictive this is to everything I've said over the last few days, but knowing that I'm going to be taken from here and used in some horrible sacrifice ritual… it makes me wish I could see Damon's face one more time. I'm an idiot. I was an idiot to waste my last few days with him. I was an idiot to think that being here, alone, would make anything better at all.

I sit down on the couch to wallow in my grief and wait for my second set of kidnappers to arrive when I hear something crinkling underneath my shoe. A piece of notebook paper? That wasn't here before, was it?

I open it up and it reads: Damon and Stefan are coming for you –B

Relief floods through my body and I cling to that paper like a life raft, like it's my saving grace. Because it is.

Damon's POV

"We're getting close." Stefan says. "There's an access road past mile marker 6."

Well, this is it. We're most likely marching off to our doom considering Katherine's 'pals' are probably 500 years old and every bit as strong as she is. But we still need to prepare ourselves on the off chance we can actually get her out safely without getting killed, so I grab a blood bag and hand one to Stefan. He's been drinking it enough now. He should be fine.

I tear off the cap and take a drink, grimacing at the temperature. It's so much better fresh.

"What's with you?" Stefan says, sipping on his own bag.

"Nothing. I just forgot how different cold blood tasted. Ech." I say automatically.

He raises his eyes brows. "Does Elena know you're drinking fresh blood again?"

I glance at him and hesitate. "Uh… yeah."

The smirk disappears from his face, replaced by the sneer I've come so accustomed to over the past few months.

"Because you've been drinking hers." He says.

It isn't a question.

"How romantic." He spits.

I glance at him but he refuses to look at me, instead staring out the window and possibly imaging all the horrible things he'd like to do to me. Suddenly, he lashes out, hitting the dashboard of my car in anger.

"Hey, hey, hey! Easy on the car, brother!"

He ignores me.

I'm guessing the bonding part of this road trip is over. That's just fantastic. Ten minutes before we're supposed to fight some big bad and Stefan's pissed at us again. Let's hope he can channel his anger into fighting whoever this is instead of risking all our lives by doing something stupid… or doing nothing at all.

I pull up to a clearing near the house. I don't want to drive too close because they would hear us. Thankfully, this will get us close enough and we can walk the rest of the way.

I grab the bag of weapons and close the trunk.

"You're sure you want to do this?"

Again, he doesn't respond. I guess he's giving me the silent treatment because he grabs a couple weapons and walks past me. I try to let it go, I really do, but I can't. I've had enough of it for now. He can hate me once this is all over and Elena is safe.

"Hey!" I flash to block his way and push him back. "I'm serious, Stefan. I know you're pissed off but either you're in this or you're not. I'd rather go in alone than with you and your screw-the-world attitude. You can hate me later but, right now, this is about getting Elena out safe. Don't screw this up."

He seems to struggle for a minute before he nods almost imperceptibly and I back up out of his personal bubble.

Okay. Now that that's taken care of... Let's do this.

Elena's POV

I picture the now-worn paper from Bonnie in my head, trying to focus on the message she sent and not the headless body across the room, Rose's cries, or Elijah, a vampire who moves so fast that he's barely visible. How old can he possibly be to be this strong? Katherine doesn't even compare and she's over 500. It's terrifying in the way that makes you feel nauseous, like the floor is giving out but it's really your knees shaking so hard they barely hold you up. And the relief I feel that Damon and Stefan are out there somewhere, on their way to save me, is lessened by the realization that Rose and Trevor are also over 500. Well, Trevor was. And, before I could blink, he was dead.

I squeeze my eyes shut and try to push away the image of Damon or Stefan in the same state and instead picture Bonnie's words in my head again. Damon and Stefan are coming for you. Damon and Stefan are coming for you. Damon and Stefan are coming for you.

"We have a long journey ahead of us."

Elijah says, suddenly in front of me again.

I panic.

"What about the Moonstone?"

He actually looks surprised.

"What do you know about the Moonstone?"

"I-I know that you need it and I know where it is."

"Yes."

"I can help you get it."

"Tell me where it is."

I shake my head.

"It doesn't work that way."

Again, he's surprised.

"Are you negotiating with me?"

He looks back at Rose. She looks mortified, like I've just signed her death sentence. Maybe I have.

"It's the first I've heard of it." She says, tears shining in her eyes.

Elijah looks back at me and it takes me a second to realize he's trying to compel me. His eyes flicker down.

"What's this vervain doing around your neck?" He says, ripping it off and tossing it aside.

He grabs my neck to force me to look in his eyes and, though I try, I can't stop the words from falling out of my mouth, telling him everything about the Moonstone's location.

"Interesting." He says just as glass shatters from somewhere else in the house.

My stomach instantly knots. They are here.

Elijah grabs me and drags me to the front of the house, Rose close behind us. He practically throws me at her as either Stefan or Damon races through the room.

"Rose?"

She shakes her head. "I don't know who it is."

"Up here." Stefan calls from upstairs.

Elijah races up the stairs but as soon as he stops, Damon calls out from somewhere downstairs. My knees go even weaker at the sound of his voice but it doesn't matter for long because a shot sounds and, then, he has me pressed against a wall in a hallway somewhere, his hand covering my mouth and a finger to his lips. I nod, glancing around to see we're now upstairs. My whole body is shaking with an overload of emotions as I look over Damon's face, his blue eyes skimming the area for any sign of Elijah.

"Excuse me!" Elijah calls, still far away, though that doesn't mean much. "To whom it may concern: You're making a great mistake if you think that you can beat me. You can't."

Damon hands me a grenade of some kind and shows me how to work it quickly. I can see in his expression that he does not want me to do what I know he needs me to do, but it might give them a chance to gain the upper hand.

"You hear that?" Elijah continues to taunt. "I repeat: You cannot beat me. So, I want the girl on the count of three or heads will roll. Do we understand each other?"

There's a horrible sound of splintering wood and I grab the grenade, tucking it under my arm, ready to head out to face Elijah before he finds us or Stefan. Damon signals that he'll be nearby and that Stefan is, too, before I step out onto the landing.

"I'll come with you." I lie. "Just please don't hurt my friends. They just wanted to help me out."

He's in front of me so fast I jump backwards.

"What game are you playing with me?"

He's close enough so I take my chance, pulling the pin from the grenade, releasing it, and jumping back. The glass shatters everywhere as Elijah screams out in pain. He looks up, his face burned but healing, and gives me a look that makes me thankful he needs me alive. He starts back up the stairs and I sink back towards the wall as far as I can go just as Stefan appears with some type of nail gun. He shoots at Elijah until there's no more ammunition and then tackles him around the waist. They tumble down the stairs and then, a few seconds later, I hear a thud.

I scramble to my feet just in time to see Rose run off at the sight of Elijah pinned to the wall, dead, with Damon still holding onto the coat rack he used as a stake.

"Let her go." I say to Damon, who looked like he was on the verge of chasing her; she was just another person whose life was ruined by Katherine. I kind of feel bad for her.

Then it hits me. He's here with me. He saved me, again, just like he always does. I breathe a sigh of relief and run as fast I can down the stairs, throwing my arms around him. I bury my face in his neck and hold him as tight as I can. He does the same, crushing me so hard I can barely breathe and I don't even care. How did I think I could make it without him?

I catch sight of Stefan standing behind us awkwardly and give him a small smile from over Damon's shoulder.

"Thank you." I mouth and he nods, before grabbing a bag of weapons and walking out.

I should probably feel worse about that but I can't. All I've done today is feel bad and feel regret. Now, I just want to close my eyes and hold onto Damon so tight that my arms ache from the effort. I just want to feel him here with me, both of us alive. I just want to savor this moment and never let it go.

Damon's POV

I pour myself some bourbon and take a swig.

So. We killed an Original today. And we saved Elena. And Stefan hasn't killed me. It's been a good day… you know, in a weird 'we all almost died' kind of way.

"Where's Elena?"

I glance over at Stefan and sigh.

"She's at home."

He laughs humorlessly. "So, then, why are you here, Damon? She clearly forgave you."

"She wanted to be with Jeremy and Bonnie. I'm trying to be a gentleman and give her what she wants."

So, I'm going to give her a couple hours to hug and sing songs of happiness and family bonding before I go over there and make my case against this shutting me out thing she's been doing.

Stefan is right; she seems to have forgiven me. Then, again, I am never really sure what to expect with her so… I guess we'll see once I go in and give my evidence as to why we should be together. Exhibit A – we are miserable without each other, which I'm assuming is why she was having nightmares. Exhibit B – When I don't spend the night, she gets kidnapped to be bartered off to Original vampires. Need I say more?

Before all that, though, I need to make my case to my brother.

"So… what Rose told Elena about the sacrifice…"

"I know. We'll keep her safe." He says, sounding bored.

"If that's really going to happen, you're going to have to get over this thing with Elena."

Tact is something I'm still working at.

"You mean that thing where you stole my girlfriend, had sex with her, then fed on her?" He downs his drink. "I'm already over that."

I block his exit for the second time today and I can tell he's starting to get testy.

"Listen, Stefan. You can be pissed at me all you want and you can blame me for taking your girlfriend or whatever, but I know you and you can't let Elena die. But that's what will happen if we can't get past this. I don't need forgiveness, just for you to go back to sane Stefan until we figure this sacrifice thing out."

"Sure, Damon. Whatever."

He walks past me and up the stairs to his room. I sigh. I guess we're back to this old song and dance.

I pull Elena's vervain necklace from my pocket, flinching as the locket brushes against my skin, searing it. Probably not my brightest move. I lay it down on the window seat and look around her room. It looks exactly as it did when this all began months ago. You can see from the hints of light pink and sparse floral print that she's slightly girly but not overly so. The books that line her shelf suggest she's intelligent and strong because those are the characters she favors. The lack of band or movie posters shows that she doesn't follow trends or the crowd. Instead, she lines her dresser and mirror with pictures of her friends and family because they are what matter to her. They are what's important. So young and she already has that figured out. She is her own person. Which is ironic, considering she's the Doppelganger of someone else.

The most amazing thing about her room, though, is the fact that, by just looking, you could never guess the struggles she's faced, struggles that should have changed everything. But it is exactly the same. She, through the death of her parents, through the constant danger, has remained strong. She has survived it all and come out on top and I have to believe that she will do the same again and again because the alternative is inconceivable.

But, even though I have to believe she'll survive this, she will change. With me, she will change. She has already has in some ways. And is that really what I want? After all, I fell in love with who she already is, not who I could turn her into. I love the spunky, brave, infuriatingly stubborn person she is. I love that she stands her ground, even with me… especially with me. I love that she has morals that make me want to be good for her. I just don't know that I'm capable of the change that she deserves from me.

I stand and look at the pictures that line her mirror. Her happy face smiles up at me from them with her friends, brother, and even a couple with Stefan in there. There are several from years ago when she was younger and her parents were still alive.

And, then, I notice one of me that I didn't know she'd taken. I pull it off the mirror and sit down by the window, trying to figure out when it was taken. Where was this? I search the background for clues but it's blurry. Then, I see something familiar… a sign from Bree's Bar in Georgia. Why would she have a picture from me in Georgia? We weren't even together then.

The water turns off in the bathroom and a toothbrush clatters in its holder. I look up to see Elena coming in, already dressed for bed.

"Cute PJs." I say.

She jumps back, her head probably still reeling from the events that happened earlier today, but her body seems to relax when she realizes it's me.

"Damon." She sighs.

"I know, it's late. But I brought you this."

I hold up her vervain necklace.

"I thought that was gone."

I just shake my head.

"Thank you." She says sincerely, taking it and laying it on the bed in favor of wearing it; it's a sign of how much she trusts me.

"Elena… listen. I know you're still mad at me and I came here with the intention of making my case to you about why we should be together: because I can protect you better, because you love me, because I love you. And all those are true. But…"

I take a step forward and sigh.

"I love you, Elena. And it's because I love you that I can't be selfish with you."

"Damon."

"I don't deserve you."

She steps forward and cups my face in her hands, her almond eyes staring into mine.

"Damon. Stop. I love you, too. Remember how simple you said everything was yesterday? Let's go back to that."

"Yeah, well, a lot can happen in a day."

"Come on. Step away from your life for five minutes." She grins, feeding my words back to me from the very trip I've been thinking of all day. "Five minutes. Your problems will all still be there when you get home."

Before I can answer, she kisses me and every worry and fear I've had goes out the door. She's here. I'm here. And, even though I told her I can't be selfish with her, I can't stop myself from giving in to what I want again and again.