Fast forward a few hours and the tension in the air was strong enough to kill an Original.

'I'll order some Chinese. You must be hungry.'

'She hates Chinese, Damon,' said Bonnie, momentarily forgetting he couldn't hear her.

'It's fine, I'm not hungry,' replied Elena, motioning for him to come over and sit down. 'Talk to me, Damon.'

He had been on his feet since she turned up hours ago, unable to stand still.

'Are you tired? You should get some sleep.'

'Sleep is the last thing I need right now. I just want to talk. You're acting weird.'

'Am I?'

'Yeah.' she sighed. 'I know it's a lot to take in. But it's really me. I'm here.'

Elena took one of Damon's hands between her own and stroked it softly.

He pulled it back as if her skin was laced with vervain.

'Uh-oh,' remarked Bonnie, standing idly by the staircase. It was like watching a soap opera. But very real and very awkward. She watched Elena clench her first.

'Sorry,' said Damon, avoiding his girlfriend's pained expression. 'I'm really glad you're here...'

'But?'

'There's more to the story.'

He stood up again and paced the room, recalling the story of the Phoenix stone. He brushed over the Gemini twin baby drama with Caroline and the Heretics. He talked about the bad times with Bonnie and resurrecting Jo. But he skipped the good parts.

He didn't want to share those. He knew a little piece of him would die if he let Elena into that forbidden territory. It involved feelings and thoughts he didn't want to admit to himself, let alone his girlfriend.

Bonnie could feel this secrecy too. In fact, it was the thing that was holding her back here.

She wasn't sure where 'here' was. The Other Side had been destroyed long ago but this felt just like that realm. It was tranquil but lonely.

When that truck had hit her car earlier, it was relatively painless. She heard hundreds, if not thousands of welcoming voices calling her name, beckoning her somewhere. But one voice was strong enough to pull her in a different direction. Back to the Salvatore house.

It was the first place Damon had retreated to after Lily died. The Heretics took off and left his humble abode vacant. He was glad, as it contained the only viable wine cellar in the entire town.

He alerted Matt as soon as he could about the car crash but the new sheriff had no good news to offer. He was busy searching through the local radio feeds to see if any accidents had been reported but none caught his attention. Bonnie was really gone.

'So,' started Elena, 'let me get this straight. Bonnie knew the stone could bring her back but she still chose to die?'

Damon nodded.

'Death chose me. I'm not suicidal,' retorted Bonnie, crossing her arms.

Elena's doe eyes brimmed with tears, more so at Damon losing his best friend, than her own. 'I'm so sorry,'

She leaned in and placed her lips on Damon's. The innocent peck led to an impassioned kiss fused with urgency. They were hungry for each other and they weren't afraid to show it.

Elena wrapped her legs around his waist and he pushed her towards the wall. Right next to where Bonnie was stood. Damon felt a cold draught where the dead witch was standing, mouth slightly agape. He stopped dead in his tracks and stared at the oak panelling. Elena took that as a hint and wiped her mouth, straightening up her clothes.

'No,' Damon stopped her.

'Are you sure-?'

'We're not done,' he snarled, in a way that expressed arousal, not hatred, before dragging her up to his bedroom.

Bonnie slid down the wall and covered her ears. Let me go, Damon. I don't want to hear this.