Compromises

(Salvatore house)
"So are you telling me I'm a prisoner here? I can't go home!" Elena demanded.

Stefan looked at her seriously, "You, are a threat right now to Jeremy and any human being!"
He continued, "until you can get this under control, I can't let you go out of this house, Elena."

"Fine, what do I have to do since you don't want me touching any blood bags either!" she snipped.

"Now that it's dark. We hunt." he responded.

Stefan stood before Elena. "Alright, now, promise you'll do all that I tell you."

"I promise, jeez, it's me, Stefan!" she sneered at him.

"First, I want you to learn how to handle your running speed."

Half an hour into running around the front of the Salvatore property, Damon made his appearance.

"Nice running," he rolled his eyes at the pair "at least teach her with obstacles."

Elena glared at his direction, still mad at him for avoiding her all this time.

"I know what I'm doing, Damon!" Stefan barked back at him.

Damon chuckled, "you also need to teach her how to feed."

"Where are you off to?" Stefan inquired.

"A little unfinished business, brother," Damon replied.

As he walked away from them, he yelled, "Don't go adding animals to the endangered species list!"

(The Forest)
It was late.

Elena followed Stefan till they got to the clearing. She no longer felt the cold like when she was human, even though the woods were colder now that it was Fall. There was a slight wind that scattered some of the leaves. She found that her vision was very sharp, even with the limited lighting they were getting from the stars and moon. Her ears also picked up a lot of the scurrying she would have never heard when she was human.

"Elena, we're going into the heart of the forest. Try to be as quiet as possible, they're hearing is almost as acute as ours," he whispered." Focus on your prey and when it's unsuspecting you grab it quickly!"

"Alright," she whispered following him closely. This part of the woods was densely populated with trees and underbrush. After a few moments he stopped. She started to ask him what was wrong, when she saw his index finger cover his mouth to be quiet. Watching him as he stalked a squirrel that was at the foot of a large tree.

He stood like a statue. With lightning fast speed, he snared the squirrel with his fingers, as it tried to escape. He parted his lips revealing the canines erupting from his gums. He struck like a cobra, draining the squirrel's blood till it went limp.

Elena watched Stefan in dismay. "I can't do that, Stefan."

"Yes, you can, Elena," he told her firmly. "It's what's going to sustain your life."

He glared at her, then heard movement. She heard it too.

"Game time!" he announced softly & proceeded to go towards the sound. He looked back at Elena to make sure she was following. He whispered this would be her kill and motioned her to go ahead of him. Elena did as he instructed, moving lightly through the forest with ease. She spotted the rabbit. Her hunger pangs resurfaced. She imitated what she had seen him do, she clumsily, pounced on the rabbit. Her canines elongated and she pierced it's neck, instantly snapping it. When she finished drinking all of its blood, she looked at the rabbit's dead body and frowned. Stefan stepped next to her, took the carcass out of her hands and discarded it. "The other animals will eat its flesh."

"You did well," he smiled at her like a proud father does with a child's first step.

"Still hungry?" he asked looking intensely at her.

She nodded in response to him. "Can't I just have a blood bag?" she looked at Stefan.

"No, Elena," he sighed," I can't be around it. You can abstain from human blood and survive only on animal blood" he scolded.

Searching her eyes, "Elena, if we're going to be together..." he implored, "come, let's hunt!"

Reluctantly, she followed him deeper into the forest.

(The Grill)
Bonnie had arranged to meet Damon and Caroline at the Grill.

When Damon arrived he found the girls deep in conversation at a booth. He swung into the seat Caroline was sitting at.

The girls stopped talking. Bonnie looked at Damon. His eyes hooded, "Alright, Bonnie, what's so important we had to meet here?"

Bonnie looked towards Caroline, then back to Damon, "Klaus."

"Klaus?" Damon scrunched his eyebrows. "He's dead! I saw Alaric kill him!"

Bonnie exhaled, "No, I cast a spell." Taking a deep breath, she told him she had transferred Klaus into Tyler's body.

Damon turned quickly to Caroline, "You said Tyler had died!"

"I thought he did,"she stammered, "he was transitioning and sent me away...he told me to lie to his mom!"

Damon turned back and glared at Bonnie, "You knew all this time?"

"He made me promise, Damon, or else he would hurt everyone I love." she responded.

"I know I wasn't on that list!" he whispered with a chuckle. "So now what?"

Caroline interjected, "well I got this," showing Damon the text.

As he read the text she continued, "I went to the house, to confront the asshole that had sent it!"

"And?" he asked.

"And," she answered, "I found Tyler, except it wasn't Tyler it was Klaus as Tyler."

"He pulled an Alaric, like at the decade dance!" Rage fueling inside him, "What's he want?"

Caroline looked at him, "For you to retrieve his body."

"Screw that, no way!" he growled.

"Damon we have to! That's Tyler were talking about!"

Yeah, together they'll make only one hybrid we have to worry about!"

"No!" she raised her voice. "We have to save him, I know you don't care, but I do!"

"You're right about that!" he snarled.

"Stop it, both of you!" Bonnie glared. "We're doing this, Damon!"

He shook his head, "Fine," he exhaled, "but first..." he got up and walked towards Matt who was busing a table.

Caroline and Bonnie quickly looked at each other confused. They watched as the two engaged in conversation. Matt nodded and went back to work. Damon strolled back with a smile on his face.

"What was that about?" Caroline inquired.

"Not of importance at this time," he responded. "Let's get on with this," walking past them towards the exit.

The trio walked towards Damon's Camaro.

"I think I should tell Klaus, you're getting his body." Caroline announced.

Bonnie frowned, "You mean you're not going with us?"

"I think I should go to Klaus, that way he knows we're on track." she suggested.

"He can hurt you!" Bonnie argued.

"No he won't," Damon said with smiling eyes. "he's got the hots for our little Vampire Barbie!"

"What do you know?"Caroline demanded.

"Oh, I know, trust me." he assured.

Caroline ignored him and turned to Bonnie, "I'll be fine, you just get his body so we can get this over with!"

Bonnie nodded and followed Damon to his car.

Caroline watched them go and retreated to hers.

Damon & Bonnie started the long drive to the storage unit to retrieve the Original's body.

"I need to call my mother," Bonnie announced.

Damon raised his eyebrows.

"I do need a little guidance with the transference spell," Bonnie responded.

"Didn't you do that the last time?" he inquired.

"It's different this time," she sighed, "Last time, I just put Tyler in a coma & Klaus into Tyler's body. Now, I have to put Klaus back into his own body & bring Tyler out of the coma."

She dialed her mother & spoke for her a while, asking questions and agreeing to be careful.

Damon fidgeted with the radio as he drove.

"Got your pep talk?" emphasizing on the "pep".

Bonnie rolled her eyes at him, "I got what I needed. I don't want anything to go wrong, Damon."

"Great," he responded sarcastically.

When they arrived, Bonnie took a deep breath. Uneasiness, hit her like a ton of bricks.

"Ready?" Damon said confidently, as they stepped out of his convertible. She nodded as he escorted her back to unit 1020.

They opened the storage bin & saw the coffin was still there. Bonnie immediately went over to its side, as did Damon. Chills ran up her spine, but, she quickly brushed them away. Damon lifted the coffin lid, revealing Klaus' semi-charred body. His eyes did not open up like the last time. Bonnie commenced her spell incantation. Almost immediately, Klaus' body was rejuvenated. Now, they just needed to get it back to Mystic Falls.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (Salvatore house)

Elena & Stefan sat on the couch. Breaking the silence he turned to her,"You did fine, your first time." He smiled, "I'm proud of you!"

Elena shook her head, "I'm so hungry... the animals..didn't suffice," she complained, "I keep getting these crazy, intense, hunger pains, my heads throbbing, my gums ache!"

"Elena. Focus. Breathe," he looked deep into her eyes as he grabbed her forearms. She started hyperventilating. "Stefan, please," her eyes begged. Reluctantly, he let go of her & sighed. "Please just one," she implored.

He studied her, took a shallow breath, then quickly went to & from the cellar retrieving what she craved.

"Here," extending the blood bag to her.

She looked at him, not knowing whether she should take the bag or not. He looked defeated. She hated disappointing him, but the hunger was driving her nuts. She went to grab the bag. Stefan pulled it away, "you're sure you don't want to try & go hunt some more, we can get bigger game."

She looked at him, then at the bag. The hunger overwhelming her. Her eyes and lower eyelids turned veiny, her breathing became erratic. Stefan held the bag out to her & she took it.

Ripping into the bag she began to take fast gulps.

"Slow Elena!" he demanded as he looked away, avoiding the aroma of the blood as well.

She finished the bag and was content. She let the empty bag fall to the floor, "I'm sorry, Stefan!" Looking at the disappointment on his face, she ran out of the house at super speed .

Stefan started to go after her, but, decided she may need some time on her own. His cell phone rang at the same time & he answered. "Alright, I'll be there as soon as I can." Before putting away his cell phone he texted, "Elena, be careful. We can get through this. Meeting up with Bonnie & Caroline. Please come home soon."

(Mystic Falls Hospital)

Elena arrived outside the hospital. She had heard her phone go off & saw Stefan's text. She needed to prove to him she would be able to get her own blood bags.

She entered the lobby and went directly to the information desk. She found a cheery older volunteer receptionist, and asked her what floor was it she could donate blood.

The woman smiled, pointed her to the elevators & said 3rd floor.

Elena rode the elevator & arrived to her destination. When the doors opened the overwhelming smell of blood threw her off. She started hyperventilating & jabbed the button to get her back to the Lobby. The doors started to close, when a hand tapped the side of the door, forcing them back open.

An average height, slender young man in his early 30's squeezed through the elevator doors. He smiled at her, "almost didn't make it!". She watched as he pulled up his sleeve and yanked the band aid off of where they had placed it after his donation. "Did my good deed of the day," he said cheerily. Elena took in a deep breath. She could smell the blood on the bandaid. She looked away. The doors closed & they started their descent. Her eyes and lower eyelids becoming veiny. "You okay?" he asked. Her teeth started to elongate & her belly started to ache with hunger. Again he asked, "Hey, are you okay?" placing a hand on her arm. She looked at the button display of the elevator. The light went off the "L" & she heard the ping. They had arrived at the lobby. The doors opened & she rushed out. Behind her she heard the guy say "Miss?" She didn't look back, but kept running. She didn't stop till she got to her house.

She was able to enter her house, as Jeremy had invited her in when she got home from the hospital a week ago. Damon had insisted.

She stepped into the kitchen & looked all around, taking in the familiar smells of the room & house. She reminisced about all the good & bad things she had lived through, in such a short lifetime.

"Jeremy?" she called out, climbing the stairs to their bedrooms. There was no response. She checked his room, but it was empty. She ambled into hers and looked at everything. Tears welled in her eyes, as she recalled being a little girl in this room. She could picture her mother brushing her hair. Her father playing with her & Jeremy. The many kisses goodnight she'd received from them. She would never be able to bestow any of these things on any children of her own. Overwhelmed, she knelt down in the middle of the room. She sat back on her heels & closed her eyes to fight the tears, but they won, and streamed down her cheeks. She sat quietly, containing the sobs. Gasping for air she stood up quickly & left the house.

(Salvatore house)
Elena arrived at the Salvatore house with a mission. To talk to Damon. She had avoided talking to him for a week now. Although, they had made eye contact.

She stood outside and started to go for the doorbell. She hesitated.
Biting her lip, she started to leave. She stopped. Turned back around, stared at the door and took a deep breath.

She rang the bell out of courtesy and waited for him to answer the door. She knew he was alone. Stefan had gone to meet up with Caroline & Bonnie. He had no idea what Elena was up to.

Damon opened the door. His shirt was unbottoned, revealing his bare chest & abs, he wore black jeans and was barefooted. "Since when have you had to ring to come in?" he asked with a twinkle in his eyes.

She tried not to look at his bare chest, "I need you, Damon," she said softly, focusing on his face.

Damon's eyes darted from left to right, "Stefan know about this?" he teased in a whisper.

Her brown eyes looked into his hypnotizing blue ones, "Seriously Damon," she glared. "I need you to teach me how to feed without killing!"

Damon looked at her with playful eyes "I thought you had adopted the Stefan diet. "

She rolled her eyes as she pushed past him into the foyer ," it's not funny Damon, I don't like killing animals. They're so defenseless...and it's never enough!" Her tone was angry, "blood bags are fine in a pinch, but, Stefan won't let me have any! And now...well I almost killed a guy!"

"And you're here? Why?" he smirked.

"You know why," she said with desperation, "I started to lose control and almost killed a guy on an elevator!"

"Weren't you the one that said you'd never be like me?" looking at her with hooded eyes as he leaned closer closer to her.

"That's changed or I wouldn't be here, Damon!"she frowned. "Stefan won't and Caroline.." her voice was hoarse.

She shook her head, "I know why Stefan won't teach me," she scoffed as she continued, "but Caroline? It's like she's blowing me off...it's all about Tyler!"

Damon was amused at her outburst.

She saw his look, "Damon!" she shouted.

He smiled, "You, didn't want to be taught! But. Since you're asking, I'll teach you." Padding past her and pouring himself some bourbon. He pulled out his cell, dialed, and said "it's time." He hung up and took a swig.

Looking confused, "it's time?" she asked.

Damon smirked, "you'll see."

"See what, who'd you call ?" she demanded.

Eyeing her, Damon tilted the glass back with the last of the amber fluid and went up to his room to put on his socks and boots.

From the foot of the stairs she called up to him, "see what, Damon?"

He came down the stairs glaring at her, "very persistent aren't you?" as he buttoned his shirt.

"The compelling part isn't hard." He was serious now, "But, to take enough blood to quench your thirst, without draining the life of your victim, takes skill. " He pointed a finger at her, "That, is what I am going to teach you."

He tucked his shirt into his jeans and stared at her, "And I have just the person to practice on," he smiled.

The front doorbell chimed and Damon walked passed her. Opening the door, Matt stepped in on cue.

Elena, glared at Damon. "What the hell?

"I'm going to teach you how to compell, snatch and erase all while taking what you need without killing anyone."

She looked at Matt and back at Damon, shaking her head, "Matt?

"It's okay, Elena, I wanna do this." He smiled.

"No, Matt!" she replied, turning angrily to Damon, "I am not going to feed off of Matt!"

"Elena," Matt insisted, "I'm fine with it."

Elena looked at Damon with death rays, "can you give us a second, and try not to eaves drop!"

"Fine... I wouldn't dream of eaves dropping on this little moment." he smirked as he exited the room.

Elena watched Damon go down to the cellar and turned to face Matt, "how the hell did he get you to agree to this?"

"Damon came to me about a week ago.."

Not letting him finish, "so you two are now friends?" she scoffed.

"No," he sighed deeply. "He knew you would eventually need to know how to feed from a human."

"And he talked you into it, didn't he?" she stated angrily.

"Yes and no," he frowned, " I mean, he said I owed it to you." He sighed, "And frankly, it should be someone you know. Someone that's ok with it." He gazed into her eyes, "Really, I want to do this for you," he touched her shoulder.

They heard Damon's footsteps as he reached the landing. Both looked at him as he uttered , "agreed?"

Matt answered right away, "yeah."

Elena sighed, "I don't know about this, maybe I should try Stefan's way again ."

"You want to relive the almost kill thing, fine!" Damon walked over to serve himself more bourbon. Looking at Matt, "Sorry, for dragging you away from the Grill." He took a huge swig of liquor, "Elena, clearly doesn't know what she wants.

He walked over and eyed her intensely, "you have to trust me!"

They stared at each other till Matt said, "let's do this." **********************
"First, I want you to compel him," he smirked at Elena. "I know you can do that."

Elena looked at Matt. He nodded in her direction and smiled. "Come on Elena, it's ok."

She stared at Matt, her mind telling him to relax, she wasn't going to hurt him. She walked closer telling him to tilt his head to the side. Matt followed her directions. She continued influencing his mind, telling him he wanted her to bite him. She moved closer to him, telling him he wouldn't remember anything.

From behind, Damon coached. "Embrace him close to you." He watched her put her arms around Matt. "Look for the flutter of heartbeats from his carotid artery," He continued.

She scanned Matt's neck and saw as the skin covering the target place pulsated for each heartbeat. Her eyes and lower eyelids became veiny. Her canines elongated piercing through her upper gums.

"Now, carefully, but with enough force, I want you to pierce through the skin and through to the carotid artery."

She did as he commanded. She held Matt close to her, her face close to his neck. She opened her mouth & swiftly her teeth cut through the layers of Matt's skin and tissue, finally reaching the carotid artery. It pulsated and she pierced through it. The blood rushed through 2 little wounds & through her teeth and down her throat. It was satiating the thirst. She was enthralled in the moment, the warm delectable fluid filling her belly. Somewhere in the distance she could hear her name being called. But she ignored it enjoying the warmth of the fluid, the exhilarating feeling she was receiving.

"Elena, stop!" she finally heard Damon yell at her with urgency. His arms were around her pulling her off of Matt.

Matt slumped onto the floor. Realizing what she had done, she started to cry,"I told you I couldn't do this!" Matt lay there, unconscious, barely breathing. She hovered over him, "Matt, I'm sorry," pulling him into her arms. But Matt remained almost lifeless.

Damon squatted down next to Matt to check his vitals, "he'll be fine," as he looked straight into her eyes, "it was close, but he'll be fine."

"He'll be fine?" she repeated, her voice cracking. "Damon, I almost killed him!" She broke into a sob.

Damon grabbed her by her upper arms, "Elena, listen to me, you can do this."

Her eyes stayed closed as the tears poured out.

Damon firmed his grip and shook her, "Elena, look at me." She wouldn't open her eyes. He shook her again, "look at me!"

She opened her eyes and looked into his, "I can't do this," she responded in defeat. He looked down at her, "yes you can, but you have to trust and listen to me."

They heard a groan as Matt started to come around. Damon extended his hand to Matt pulling him up. Damon checked his eyes, "You eat something & rest."

"I'm fine," Matt tried to walk, when he felt woozy and started falling backwards. Damon caught him and took him over to the sofa. "Yeah, you need to take a few. I'll get you something to eat," quickly flying out the front door.

Elena went over to sit with Matt. Still crying, "I'm so sorry, Matt."

"For.." He looked confused. "What happened? Did you?" he asked.

The cold air hit his wound and stung. He reached to cover it with his hand. Feeling the dampness, he pulled his hand away and saw some blood on his palm.

"You did," he semi-smiled. "wow, I don't remember!"

Elena frowned,"I compelled you to forget it happening." She quickly got up to put some distance between herself and the smell of blood from his wound, "Matt, if Damon wasn't here, I would've drained you."

Matt looked surprised, "where is Damon?" She watched Matt, "He went to get you some food." Matt looked at her puzzled, "He doesn't have food in the house?" Elena shook her head, "no, just liquor. Food... it's not their..our source of food."

Matt chuckled, "Oh yeah."

They heard the front door close and Damon stepped in with a food sack. "Burger and fries?"

Matt chuckled "yeah, that's fine. Thanks."

"Elena," Damon motioned her to come to him after handing Matt the food sack. "Matt, you don't mind if Elena and I talk?"

Matt had a mouthful of food and motioned it was okay.

Elena and Damon stepped out of the parlor. "Did he remember anything?" Damon whispered.

She looked at him, "No, he didn't, but he did feel the wound I left."

"I can teach you," he looked into her eyes. "But, I will have to intermingle my mind with yours so I can tell you when you're skating too close to the edge, where they'll die if you don't stop."

She didn't respond to him. Her eyes looked past him to where Matt was sitting enjoying his meal.

"If you're going to do this, you need to trust me. You need to let me into your mind." He cupped her face in his hands, "Elena, I won't let you kill anyone." Staring deep into her eyes, "I promise."

"Okay," she responded softly, "but, not today...and Stefan can't know."

"Your secret's safe with me." he smiled.

(To be continued...)