He was being released. This means his brother was able to get him out on bail. It also means he had to face Elena. His brother told him she was coming today and he wasn't sure he wanted to be released anymore. Being here was safer than having to face her anger and pain. He missed her like crazy and he was sure she was still perfect with her curvy ass and amazing smile. But seeing her after all this time was one beast he did not know how to face. So he walked with Liz and saw his brother waiting for him at the counter alone. He was relieved; she still wasn't here. Or was he really relieved? Because he could feel the disappointment eating him up, too.

"You can stop searching and erase that puppy look from your face, she's here. She s waiting outside"

His heart skipped a beat hearing Stefan's words and he whispered "How is she? Is she…" He did not know what he was asking exactly so Stefan answered for him.

"Well she's 30 feet away. I guess you'll get your answers from her. Come on. Grab your stuff and let's go. We have a lot of work to do"

As he opened the door he saw her pacing left and right, looking as nervous as he felt. She was still a Goddess wearing jeans that showed her curves, he could not help staring at her. In that moment, as if she felt , his eyes on her, she turned around and his eyes locked with hers. He saw tears come to her eyes even though she tried to hold them back. They just stood there staring at each other 10 feet apart none of them moving or knowing what to say.

He was the first one to break the silence. "You're really here" He cursed himself for saying the dumbest thing. Years of not seeing her and this is what he comes up with.

Suddenly her entire demeanor changes, the tears are gone from her face and she's walking towards him. She doesn't know where the strength came for but she had to do this or she would fall apart and she was not going to give him the satisfaction. He cannot know he still has power over her. So she stops 2 feet away from him and urges the words out of her mouth looking straight into his eyes

"I am here. So here's the thing , this whole martyr routine you have perfected, save it. We are all here to make sure you're ok. You are going to let us help without fighting back or I swear to God Damon, you will see a side of me you have never seen. I will lock you up in your own room and make sure you can't leave until all this is done. We're your family. I am so angry at you , you hurt me and broke my heart" She felt she was losing her grip in that moment so she took a deep breath and kept going. She had to say it all. "But I won't let a good man rot in jail for something he did not do. You may be an asshole and a wanna be martyr but you are not a drug dealer. So don't. Don't make our job difficult. It's all of us against Kol. Remember that oath we all made Today, tomorrow, forever it's us against the world. All six of us. Not you alone. So am I clear on this?"

He stood there watching her make her speech. God he missed her. She was still feisty, strong and amazing. He wanted to take her in his arms and never let her go but he knew he couldn't. She did not belong here and he had a feeling if he tried to touch her, she was going to punch him in the face. But this did no mean he was going to let her down easy. He was still Damon Salvatore.

"Well, I know one thing has not changed. You are still scary when you're angry and still the most beautiful women I have ever met" She jumped to interject but he didn't let her speak "Ah..Ah…Ah., You made your speech, now it's my turn. I'm not acting like a martyr but I can't think straight if you're in danger especially you. We saw what happened last time. I need to be focused to get through this. I know what the oath says but putting my family in danger is out of question. I won't survive it if anything happens to you, all of you"

She felt her look soften up. She missed him, no matter how long they've been apart. He was Damon Salvatore , the love of her life forever imprinted in her heart and on her body. She was also his center, she could always ground him and he would listen. So she had to step up and do her role.

"Sorry Damon. You can no longer choose for me, for any of us. I may survive away from you but knowing you're in jail or God forbid dead, that none of us will survive. We are staying her and we are helping. You are not ruining my life in New York or Caroline and Klaus's wedding or Bonnie and Enzo's little life because all of that would be worthless if you are not ok." She got closer and held his face in her hands and looked him straight in the eyes. "You broke my heart into tiny little pieces and I thought I would never survive. So you owe me this. It sounds twisted but you owe me to choose to be here. This is not your choice, it is ours, each one of us. Stop thinking you ruined our lives, you were the one that made us see what life was really like. You deserve family and all of us to fight for you. Please"

He was stunned by feeling her hands on his face and feeling her so close to him. He could barely breath, After all this time, she knew every worry he had and she could still calm him down. He held her hands in his arms and whispered back "Ok, I'll let you help but any sign of real danger, you are out of here. All of this is not worth a hair on your head. I won't risk your life Elena ever no matter what" He was silent for a moment and then he continued in a low voice, she cold barely hear "I'm sorry for hurting you. It was the last thing I wanted to do. I just wanted you safe and happy."

She felt all the oxygen get sucked from her lungs. She was too close to him and he was touching her. She can't do this. She can't breath. She had to put some distance between them so she let go of his hand and turned towards Stefan" I just need a minute and we can get going. I need a walk" Stefan nodded in her direction and she was moving fast the tears coming own her face. She could feel him getting closer to her. He never could let her go when she was angry. "Go away. I need a minute, you're going to be everywhere for the next couple of days so I need one minute"

She was full on crying now barely able to get the words out. She really thought she can do this without falling apart. She had forgotten that with Damon Salvatore nothing was ever as she planned for. He was still behind her and getting closer. He really could not take seeing her like this knowing he was the reason for her tears. He just had to do something so he reached for her and turned her around so she was facing him. She was full on crying now, so he tried to remove her tears with his fingers but she pushed him away and now she was hitting him all the rage she kept inside all those years coming out, in the middle of the street but none of that mattered. She couldn't help it anymore.

She was hitting his chest full on screaming "You ruined my life. You left me alone in a hospital bed. You made me a promise of forever. You asshole. I hate you. I hate you "

He couldn't help the tears that were coming down on his face. She needed this so he let her take it all out on him as she hit him over and over again until she collapsed against him and he held her in his arms not wanting to let her go. They were both crying for what they lost 3 years ago, their family and their baby. Even if she did not know he knew, they were mourning him/her, too.

Stefan was standing there watching them fall apart. He knew there was nothing he could do. This was how they always were. Damon and Elena. They were the only ones who could break each other and the only ones who could put each other back together.