A white limo had picked up Stefan and Elena and taken them back to their apartment. Bonnie glanced at her friends.
"Maybe we should find a hotel to stay in." she said softly, as they watched a second limo pull up. It was Black, the window's darkened. The driver got out and opened the door for them, waiting for them to get in. They exchanged glances. Then Damon spoke up.
"It's my limo." He said. "It will take you all to the Salvatore Villa. You are welcome to stay there tonight." They all stared at him.
"Where will you go?" Caroline asked Damon before Bonnie could. Damon shrugged.
"You're welcome to stay at the villa, after all, it is your home." said Meredith dryly. Bonnie looked at her. She had never heard Meredith speak to Damon in such a relaxed tone. His eyes moved to Meredith, narrowed he studied her for a moment. Then, he smiled.
"Yes, I suppose it is." he said slowly. He turned around. "I'll find my own way home." Bonnie watched the wolf move away swiftly. They climbed into the Limo and headed towards Damon's villa.
Damon landed on the balcony quietly. He looked in the window, not seeing Stefan anywhere. Elena was sleeping. She was still human, but she had vampire blood in her veins now. He could sense it, even from where he stood. But it concerned him that Stefan was not with her now. He searched the apartment with his mind, finding no traces of Stefan. He let himself in, Elena awakening at his entry. "Stefan?"
"No, Elena." he answered. She sat up slowly, gracefully. He heard the question on her mind. "No, Elena," he repeated softly. "You are not a vampire yet." she moved towards him, her eyes on his. Damon moved away. She was beautiful like this, and it hurt. He had willingly given her up, to his brother, but his heart still hurt. She was still full of light, as she always had been. Her strength still shone stronger than the sun.
"You're the only one who treated me like a man." He said softly. She looked up at him, and then her eyes lowered. Damon found himself sitting next to her on the bed. She rested her head against his shoulder.
"What happens now?" she asked quietly. "Do I have to drown again?" Damon almost laughed. He saw the images from her mind. The night Katherine had killed her.
"No," he said softly against her soft hair. "With the amount of blood Stefan gave you, dying would change you. But another exchange would finish the job." he stopped, waiting for Elena to understand what he was saying.
Elena's mood was so peaceful. She rested against Damon. He had given her his blood. And now she just wanted to sleep. She figured Stefan was out hunting. Elena closed her eyes, unable to keep them open. She felt Damon moving, placing her head on the pillow. "Goodnight Elena." He whispered. She could feel him moving away. And then the windows shattered, destroying the peace that was enveloping her. She jolted into a sitting position, wide awake. Damon moved quickly, moving to protect her. Elena looked around the room. She didn't understand what was happening. And there was mist. White mist. Elena knew that mist all too well. She clung to Damon's arm. Katherine took form in front of them, a sly smile on her face.
"Katherine." Damon was angry. And confused. Elena understood the confusion. She had seen Katherine burn. In fells church. Katherine wasn't even looking at Damon. She was looking at Elena with searing hatred. She looked as she had the last time. Elena stood, and pulled away from Damon slightly.
"Sorry I missed the wedding." she said, with her eyes narrowed. "You two have been hard to find."
"How?" asked Elena. That caused Katherine to smile.
"We died together Elena. You may have died slower than me, but that sunlight killed us both. And I returned the same night you did. And I returned as a human like you. I tracked down a vampire. That wasn't easy. But here I am, ready to finish what I started. And I see that you made your choice." Katherine smiled at Damon. "that's not the choice I thought you'd make." Elena thought about that for awhile, and started to shake her head, to explain that Stefan was just out hunting. But Damon stopped her. He moved towards Katherine. "How did you get in here?" He asked. "I don't recall inviting you into my home." Elena glanced up at him, questioningly. But his attention focused on Katherine. She saw how dangerous Damon was. He was the stranger that had come into her life in Fells Church. Damon advanced on Katherine slowly.
"You don't have the advantage this time Katherine. You've been back as long as Elena, how long did it take you to find that vampire? 6 Months? I've got more Power than you have this time. He moved fast, but Katherine dodged to the side, pushing him. Elena watched as he went out and over the balcony. She forgot about Katherine and ran to look down. She saw him laying on the dark streets below. Elena turned to face Katherine.
"Why! Why did you do that!" Katherine was right there, not even a metre away from her. She tried to move away but the railing dug into her back. Katherine smiled, and Elena knew that smile.
"What have you done with Stefan?" she asked. Katherine's eyes widened.
"Stefan? He's here?" Elena watched in fear as Katherine advanced. "Well then, I'll be sure to inform him of your passing." And Elena was falling. She saw the stars. She fell for a long time. There was no screaming this time. There was fear, a lot of fear. But Elena and Katherine just stared at each other, as Elena fell to her death. She braced herself for the impact just before she hit the ground. Elena felt her spine shatter. Her skull smashed against the hard ground. As she died, her last thought was "This wasn't how it was supposed to be."