Damon had heard a scream as he ran back to the basement to find Elena drinking from the human girl Kelsie. "Elena!" He shouted afraid of what this would do to her. She looked up, dropping the limp body, tears springing from her eyes, "I am so sorry." She flashed out of the room in seconds. It was raining outside as Elena ran, ran away from everyone and everything. Why did she just kill that poor girl? She was a monster! Elena hated herself for it as she heard Damon running behind her. "Elena!" She spun around, "Go away! This is my entire fault! Can't you see? If I wasn't so greedy with you and the chance of being with you forever, we wouldn't be in this mess. Klaus would have killed me and it would have been all over! But because I fucked up, everyone I ever loved is going to have to pay for this. I'm so fucking selfish Damon. I killed that poor girl in there, what if that happens again? I can't deal with that! I'd rather die than feel this way. I don't want to be a monster, I can't be, it's not in me." She began to sob as Damon looked at her in astonishment.
"You don't think I feel that way? Do you have any idea how many people I've killed? Innocent bystanders, I took it out on them because of rage. I hate what I am and if I had the choice of dying today, I would take off this fucking ring and stand in the fucking sun and burn to ashes, because this pain is unbearable. But I can't die, not on you. I love you Elena and I'll help you get through this, I promise. I hope that's enough, because I can't stand to see you this way, upset and crying. My heart breaks every time I see a tear escape your eyes and roll down your cheeks." He was walking towards her as he continued, "Elena, you're my world, and without you I am nothing! Absolutely nothing. Remember those vows? Forever and Always? I meant them and no matter if I die tomorrow I'll know I gave you my all, that I loved you so much that it hurt. You're not selfish, you are anything but. You are selfless and caring and just completely and utterly amazing. You make me a better person and I'm going to do the same for you Elena, you're not going to go through this alone."
Elena looked up at him through blurry eyes and smiled as he moved in closer and kissed her, picking her up as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Pulling away for breath as Elena rested her forehead against his. "I love you Damon Salvatore." "And I love you Elena Salvatore."
They walked back to find everyone being quiet. Stefan was holding a passed out Bonnie in his arms. "What happened?" Elena asked. "She's dying." Katherine spoke up somberly. "What?" Katherine honestly looked sad, "When a witch kills a family member, they die as well." "But Bonnie said she wasn't a Bennett." Katherine nodded her head, "She was a distant cousin who had just found out she was a witch." Bonnie was sweating and coughing as they walked back to the SUV in silence. Elena clung to Damon's hand, fighting back the tears. "How long does she have?" Damon asked, concerned. "A day." Elena panicked, "Can't she become a vampire? I can turn her."
Katherine shook her head, "Her body will reject the blood. Besides, do you think she would want to be a vampire?" Elena knew she was right, she just wished that there was another way. They drove back to the hotel as everyone went to their own rooms. Elena sat on their bed while Damon had gotten a shower and curled up beside him. He rubbed her arm and kissed her, "I know you feel awful now, but if it's any consolation, you looked so hot today when you vamped out today." She smiled a bit, stroking his chest, "Haha, very funny." "It's true! Besides, I just wanted to see that gorgeous smile I miss oh so much."
"Then we should go back to the cabin." He smiled before pulling her under the covers and wrapping an arm around her waist, "I'm sorry about Bonnie, I wish I could do something, anything to keep her alive, but I don't know how to." Elena turned over to look at him, "I love you." "I love you too." She kissed him before standing up, "I'm going to go check on Bonnie." "Do you want me to go with you?" "No, get some sleep. I'll be back before you know it."
She stepped out into the hallway and across the hall to Caroline and Bonnie's room, knocking on the door softly before letting herself in to find Caroline sitting in a chair next to the one bed and Bonnie asleep. "How is she?" "Well if you consider the fact that she's dying, not good." Before Elena could say anything, Caroline continued, "I'm sorry, it's just, it's Bonnie, you know?" Elena nodded her head, "Yeah." She moved over to sit at the bottom of the bed. Bonnie looked skinnier and she was sweating as she tossed and turned in her sleep. "Katherine said that she wasn't going to wake up again, that she was going to sleep for the rest of the time." Caroline said as Bonnie began to cry out in pain, "Caroline?" Elena asked. "She's been doing this for a while." "She's in a lot of pain, isn't she?" "I think so." "Do you think we need to let her suffer?" Caroline looked to meet Elena's eyes, "What do you mean?"
"Let's just let her go. It's not fair to let her go through this pain just because we wanted to be selfish by keeping her here as long as we could." Caroline's eyes widened, "You mean kill her?" Elena nodded, tears streaming down her face, "I think it's the right thing to do." Caroline nodded, wiping her eyes, "You're right." "I'll go get Katherine." Elena stood, leaving the room to head down two doors to Katherine and Stefan's room. She knocked on the door to have Stefan answer it, letting her into the room. Katherine sat up in bed. "Katherine, do you think it'd be best if we just let Bonnie go?" "You mean kill her so she no longer goes through the suffering and the pain?" Stefan's eyes widened as Elena nodded her head, "Yes." Katherine stood, "It would be the best thing for her, yes." "So you'll do it?" "If that's what you want." "Yes." "Ok than."
She headed out the door with Elena and Stefan on her heels. Damon was already in the room as Caroline began to cry. Elena walked over to Bonnie, gripping her hand, "Thank you so much, for everything. You were a great witch and an even better friend. I hope you find peace with your Grams." After everyone spoke a few words, Katherine spoke, "I'd authorize you to look away." Directing it at Caroline and Elena. Elena gripped Caroline's hand as she refused to look away as Katherine moved over to the bed and over to Bonnie's sleeping body. Katherine smoothed the hair on Bonnie's forehead as she gingerly shoved her hand into Bonnie's chest, squeezing her heart.
They all watched as Bonnie's chest failed to rise again as Caroline broke down into another fit of crying. Elena felt nothing as she thanked Katherine and walked back to her room with Damon behind her. She felt hollow, like she truly had turned it all off, the pain, the sorrow, the remorse. She knew she hadn't turned off her humanity, but she was more than tempted to. She didn't cry as Damon held her in his arms as she stared off into space, feeling absolutely nothing.
