Elena felt a certain sense of disappointment when she saw who was looking back at her. Stefan stared back at her waiting for her response.

"Of course, come in Stefan."

He stepped through the window. Elena went to sit on the bed as Stefan continued to stand next to the window. He looked at her intently for a minute and then finally spoke.

"What has been going on with you lately Elena? I feel like I barely know who you are anymore."

She considered this. She had been acting differently toward him, but that was because she didn't know how to choose between him and Damon. It wasn't fair to keep this from Stefan, but she also knew that she couldn't tell him if there was ever going to be a future between them.

"Everything has just been a lot on me lately. And I know that you want to be here for me, but it's just not what I need right now. I need to go about my life with as little supernatural influence as possible Stefan. I know that I need you, but I just don't feel like I can be around you right now."

He stared at her, jaw hard seeming to not know what to say. His eyes looked pleading but there was an intensity to his face as well.

"I'm sorry Stefan. I just need some time right now. I need to think about everything that has happened and I can't do that with you around."

She could tell that she was hurting him, but it was true, she needed time to think things through and his presence wasn't helping her.

"Okay, I'll go if that's what you need. I'll leave you alone." He walked up to her and cupped her cheek. "But just don't take too long to come back to me Elena."

He turned his back on her then and was gone before she could say anything else.

Elena still felt his hand on her cheek. She felt horrible for what she had said, but it was for the best; at least for the time being.

She quickly hopped into her pjs, noticing that it was already nine. She had started to climb into bed when she felt a breeze from the window and turned around abruptly noticing the presence in her room.

Her breath hitched and her heart skipped a beat when she saw him standing there. Some part of her realized in this moment who her choice would be. There was no question when he made her feel like this.

"Cute pjs."

"Damon. Why are you here?"

"I may have overheard your little chat with my dear brother. So you've made your choice then?"

"I haven't made any choice Damon. There is only one option and you know that."

"Do I?"

He stepped closer to her, away from the window, closing the gap between them. He took another step and he was right in front of her. Her heart began to beat erratically at his sudden proximity. His hand was over her heart before Elena could process his movement.

"It doesn't seem to me that there is only one option. And based on that conversation you just had, I would say that the honeymoon is over for you two."

"You have no right to say such things Damon."

"Don't I? Tell me that you love only Stefan, Elena, and I will leave now. I'll leave Mystic Falls and let the two of you live the rest of your life in peace."

It seemed simple enough, but no words came out when Elena opened her mouth to speak. She couldn't tell him that because it wasn't true.

"That's what I thought."

Her eyes closed and she took a deep breath. It was hard to concentrate at all with him so close to her. She needed to clear her head and tell him to leave.

She opened her eyes and brought them up to look him in the eyes. The piercing blue of his eyes always took her breath away and this was no exception.

Breathlessly she whispered "Damon..."

But before she could finish her thought, his lips were on hers. They were soft and almost tentative at first. Her hands came up and laced into his hair, pulling him closer to her. She crushed her lips hard against his. He gently pushed her back and they both landed on the bed. Her legs wrapped around his waist and brought their bodies closer together. She could not seem to get close enough to him. He broke the kiss then to stare into her eyes, but she grabbed him and brought him back.

They were laying on her bed. It had felt like hours since he had come over, but really it had not been long at all. She looked deeply into his eyes, trying to put together what she needed to tell him.

"I can't lose him Damon."

He was up in such a swift motion that she didn't see that he had moved at first. Fury and pain filled his face.

"So what, did that mean nothing to you at all? Are you just toying with me?"

She realized what he thought she meant and she was quick to try and rephrase, to try and tell him what she really meant.

"That's not what I mean Damon. I know that I have to hurt him, but I can't lose him in my life. I still need him, even if I'm not with him in that way."

He took a moment to register what she was saying, confusion filling his expression. Realization dawned on him then.

"Does that mean that you've made your choice?"

"Yes."

"And you choose me?"

"Yes."

Author's Note: So that's it. I don't have plans on updating this story again. To any new readers or returning readers (after all this time) thanks for taking the time to read this story. I had a lot of fun writing this years ago and it's been a walk down memory lane to revisit this and finally finish the story.