Sorry about the wait guys, I'm really focusing on my other story "The Song That Calls Me Home" right now, and haven't updated in a while on any of my others.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this!
Elena laid awake in the dark.
She and Damon had gotten word that they were to go before the board the following day.
Apparently Bonnie had come into her powers quicker than expected, and they were ready to get everything taken care of.
Meaning stripping Elena of her memory.
She exhaled, blinking over at Damon's sleeping form.
She didn't want to forget.
Everything had been taken from her...losing him too just didn't seem fair.
But surprisingly, this thought didn't scare her.
Probably because he'd invoked the damn sire bond.
Too bad he hadn't told her not to be angry about it, once she'd stopped and thought on it long enough for her temper to build.
He had told her to let it go...so she had to.
She had to go with him tomorrow, to be turned human, and be compelled to forget him.
It wasn't right...but there was nothing to do about it.
She would be human, and eventually return to her home village.
A few years later, Jeremy would join her, and they could continue their lives, as though it was never interrupted.
And she'd never see Damon again.
But what about Klaus?
Would she see him again? Now that he'd been banished.
Fear filled her at the thought, and she stiffened.
What would stop Klaus from coming after her if she was human, living outside of the city?
Nothing.
She shook Damon's arm.
"Damon..."
He groaned a little, so she shook him harder, "Damon, wake up..."
Slowly, his eyes blinked open, "What's the matter?"
"He's going to kill me," she whispered.
This seemed to wake him up further, "Who's going to kill you? What are you talking about, kitten?"
"Klaus," She answered, "When I'm human, living back in the village...whose to say he won't come after me?"
Damon blinked, as though the thought had never crossed his mind.
Then he sat up.
"I...I never considered that he'd be roaming around out there, unsupervised...shit."
He ran a hand down his face, clearly trying to think.
"I'll have to talk to Elijah...see if there's some sort of protection we can get for you-"
"You really think Elijah will be able to do anything? The board just seems to want to get rid of me...I doubt they'll be much help."
"The ring then," he stated heatedly, "Didn't you say John Gilbert gave you a ring that protects you from supernatural death?"
She shook her head, "I gave it to Jeremy, remember?"
"Then get it back!" Damon demanded.
She swallowed, "I can't do that. Jeremy needs to be protected, especially if I can't be around him."
"Damn it, Elena," Damon all but growled, "It's okay to be selfish for once in your life! Think about what you need for once!"
She blinked.
What she needed...
What she needed was to be with him. For all this drama to go away so they could be happy and safe. That's what she needed.
But how could she ever have that, when everyone seemed so hellbent on destroying her happiness.
"Jeremy keeps the ring. Unless you're going to make me take it back."
Damon sighed, "I don't want to use the sire bond on you, Elena."
"I know...but it doesn't matter. We still need to deal with Klaus."
Damon nodded, "Look, don't worry about it. I'll protect you."
She eyed him, "They're going to compel me, Damon. I won't be around for you to protect."
He cupped her cheek, "They're compelling you, Elena...not me. I'll remember everything. And if I have to stand outside of your house in the human village every night for the rest of your life, then I will. Klaus isn't going to touch you."
She felt tears form in her eyes, "I wish I could stay with you."
He swallowed, "So do I, kitten, so do I."
Morning came too soon.
Damon had already been on the phone with Elijah, and everything was set.
It was going to happen today.
He was going to lose Elena.
She was currently in the living room, embracing Jeremy.
"I'll see you around, at least."
He nodded, "Just be careful, Lena."
"I will."
They stared at each other, and Damon knew her heart was breaking.
But this was inevitable.
Elijah would own her...and he'd still own Jeremy.
She wouldn't be able to see her brother until he was no longer with Damon, and she was back in her human village.
Damon had offered to give up Jeremy to Elijah as well, so they could be together, but she had insisted that he stay with Damon.
"No one will protect him better," She had whispered, as he'd held her.
And it was true.
Damon would protect the kid with his life...for her.
Personally, he thought Jeremy might be a little relieved that Elena was getting her humanity back.
He'd lost Bonnie when she'd been taken away, and this way, he'd eventually get his sister.
Even if it was a few years away from happening.
Damon envied him that certainty.
"We have to go," he informed her, gently grabbing her arm.
She turned, facing him, nodding slowly, "I know."
She waved goodbye to her brother, then let him lead her out to his car.
Damon swallowed as she eyed the Camaro, running her hand over the door, before opening it, and getting in.
He followed in suit, and started the engine.
As they drove, he wanted to say something to her...anything. But he couldn't.
There were no words of comfort forming on his lips, because he had none to give.
They were both under this dark cloud, trapped by an impossible situation.
She had settled into the seat, looking out the window, until eventually she cleared her throat.
"Damon...this isn't the way into town."
He nodded.
He knew very well where they were going.
"No, it isn't."
She shot him a worried look, "Are we leaving?"
The hope he found in her gaze killed him, but he had to be honest, "No, kitten, we aren't...but there is somewhere we need to go."
She allowed him this, and waited in silence, until they drove up on the base of the hill.
A light smile hit her lips, "Our cliff."
He returned the smile, nodding, "I thought we could come see it, together...one more time."
She climbed out of the car, and stared up the incline as he came up behind her.
"The first time you brought me here," she started quietly, "I hated you...I half expected you to kill me."
"I never wanted to hurt you, Elena."
She nodded, "I know that, now. But I didn't then. I thought you were a monster. Until we sat at the top of this hill. It's the first time I really saw the humanity in you."
He swallowed, watching her as she looked up.
He took her hand, "Come on. The view's better from the top."
They reached the flat stretch a lot faster this time, given that they were both vampires.
The view was the same as always.
The one constant thing in his life.
Elena fell onto the grass, sprawling out.
He smiled as she closed her eyes, enjoying what she probably deemed as her last moments of freedom.
Dropping down to her level, he kissed her lips.
She opened her eyes as he pulled away, so many emotions swirling around.
He swallowed, "I love you."
"I love you," she answered back, her voice small.
"I know in a few hours this won't matter," he admitted, "But I needed to bring you here. I needed to spend this time with you."
She nodded, understandingly, "I know."
He felt unwanted tears spring to his eyes.
Her brows furrowed, "Are you okay?"
He shook his head, trying to clear his throat, "I'm immortal, Elena. I've been alive for over a century. But until I met you...I wasn't living. And now that I am...I don't know how to survive forever without you."
She was teared up too now, breathing deeply as she cupped his face.
Holding his gaze, she stated, "You are going to do what you do, Damon. You're going to drink, probably have a lot of meaningless sex, and you are going to stop caring for a while. You're going to hurt...you're going to miss me...but one day, you're going to move on. You'll realize that you have this incredible life to lead, as the governor...and you're going to make a difference in that town. And you are going to survive."
He couldn't stop looking into her eyes.
The life she painted was too hard...too empty, without her. None of it mattered anymore.
Not if he lost the only thing he cared about anymore.
Desperately, he searched his mind for any kind of loophole.
A flaw that he could use to his advantage.
He had to take her, and let them do the spell.
He had to let her be compelled.
Or they would come for her...and for him.
And they would kill them both.
Elena deserved this chance.
But he got the feeling that she was going to be just as miserable without him...memory or not.
Maybe there was some way to stop the compulsion, without anyone knowing.
Vervain was out, seeing as Elijah would smell it a mile away...and he doubted the Gilbert ring could stop compulsion.
But there had to be something!
He couldn't just lose her!
She blinked up at him, her fingers stroking his hair, trying to calm him, even though she must be terrified herself.
He would use the sire bond to take that fear away, if he hadn't already abused it enough by forcing her to go along with this plan.
A thought struck him...the sire bond.
Would it work, even if she was human?
The spell would change her, but would it be able to stop the affects given to him by his blood coursing through her veins?
And even if it did, was it like compulsion?
If he used the sire-bond to make her do something, would the affects still last, after she's been turned?
It was worth a shot, and the only chance he saw.
Pulling her into him, he slid his hands up to her neck, and kissed her.
She kissed him back forcefully, and he grabbed her face.
After a moment, he pulled back, being sure to have her full attention.
"Elena," he stated firmly, "There's something I need you to do."
She nodded, "Anything."
With a sigh, he put as much pleads into his words as possible.
"I need you to remember."
She blinked, "What do you mean?"
"When they compel you," he explained, "I need you to remember, Elena...Remember me."
"I'll be human," she whispered.
"You have to try," he begged, and she nodded.
"I will...I don't want to forget...but how don't think I'll be able to ignore the compulsion, even if it's you telling me to."
He shook his head, "I don't want you to ignore it just because I tell you to. I want you to fight it, because you love me."
She stared at him, "I want to...but I'm scared.
He kissed her again, holding her close, "I know, kitten, I know."
Elijah hated his job sometimes.
Not often, but in this particular circumstance, he really did.
He considered Damon a close friend, and seeing his defeated look as the man lead Elena through the doors of his office was enough to flood him with guilt.
This wasn't right, or fair, especially given what his own brother had done...but it was law.
And the laws couldn't be argued with.
Damon stiffened as they entered.
Understandable, seeing as the five elders of the board stood before them.
He shielded Elena with his body in a protective manner.
Elijah stood, walking toward the couple.
"Damon...Elena," he addressed.
Damon met his gaze, "Elijah."
"The sooner, the better," he admitted, looking behind him, at the fragile girl, "It has to be done."
"I know this," Damon calculated, his voice cold.
Elijah nodded, "Then let's begin."
The five elders stood in the front of the room.
Elijah reached for Elena's hand.
The girl looked at it, then her eyes fluttered to Damon, as if seeking advice.
Damon swallowed, "You have to, Elena."
She shook her head a little, her voice barely a whisper, "Damon, please...don't let them do this."
Elijah could almost feel the pain that exploded out of his friend, "I don't have a choice, baby."
He kissed her forehead, staring at her, "Go with him...you'll be safe."
She closed her eyes, seeming to gather herself, before opening them, and nodding.
"I love you."
Damon kissed her hand, "I love you too."
Then proceeded to place it into Elijah's grasp.
Elijah gave Damon a swift nod of understanding, before leading the girl forward, in front of the board.
"Elena Gilbert," Mikael, the head of the board called, "You understand why you have been brought here?"
The girl nodded, "To be turned human...and to have my memory erased...instead of dying."
"You are a very lucky girl," Mikael informed her, "Not many cases are as complex as yours, nor have leniency to bend the rules that are allowing you to live."
Elijah had to give Elena props for her strength as she stood straight and answered, "I am aware, and grateful, for the mercy that has been shown to me."
Even though her words were void of emotion, the elders seemed to accept them.
"Bennett witches," Mikael called.
From the opposite side of the room, Sheila and Bonnie Bennett stepped forward.
"The two of you are prepared?"
Sheila nodded, "We are."
"Excellent," Mikael gave a nod, "In return for your assistance, freedom is granted to Bonnie Bennett, active as soon as today's events are concluded."
Shelia nodded, but offered no words of appreciation.
"You may begin," Mikael declared.
Elijah felt Elena tremble slightly.
And for once in many years, his heart broke a little.
A little bit of a cliff hanger, I know, sorry! But I'll make it worth it eventually :)
Please, please review, and let me know what you thought!