The following morning, Stefan got a text from Bonnie asking if he could get everyone together at the Boarding House. Apparently, she had some important information. Stefan agreed, immediately letting Damon know. His brother simply nodded his head in acknowledgment. He probably till had trouble believing Bonnie actually wanted to help them. Stefan could understand.

Bonnie and Elena arrived together later that afternoon. Stefan helped his brother to the living room just in time to meet the two girls at the parlor which was dimly lit so Damon wouldn't be uncomfortable. The first thing Stefan noticed was that they both looked exhausted. Upon taking a closer look, Stefan noticed Elena's eyes were red and puffy. She had been crying. Something twitched in his chest. He knew Elena cared for Damon. He'd known from the beginning. He also knew it was more than just friendship. He might've been a little naïve in his youth, but he was no longer a teenager, no matter how much he might look like one.

He noticed all the lingering stares. The wordless communication between Elena and his brother. Oh, and he definitely noticed the way Elena's heart started beating a fraction of a second faster each time Damon was around. Elena had gone over to Damon as soon as she saw him to check on him, Bonnie joined them a minute later to give Damon the potion she had prepared the night before. His brother gave Bonnie a long stare before drinking the pale red liquid. He swallowed it slowly and laid his head back down on the couch.

"It will take a little bit for it to take effect." Bonnie explained and Damon gave a short nod.

**Damon&Elena**

Elena reached for Damon's as soon as he finished drinking the potion. "I am sure it will work." She said in a whisper, close to his ear. She had noticed the skeptical stare Damon threw her friend's way. Not that she could blame him. He had every right to mistrust Bonnie. There was still plenty of hostility between the two. But Elena trusted Bonnie with this. She knew her best friend would never intentionally hurt someone Elena cared about.

God, she hoped the potion would work. And soon. Damon might've thought he was doing a great job in hiding the symptoms of his newly acquired curse, but Elena knew better. She could see every wince and jerk of his body. She could also see drupels of sweat on his forehead. And she could hear him grind his teeth in pain.

Damon was sitting up on the couch. His eyes closing every so often due to exhaustion and weakness. He really wanted a drink at that moment and hated that he couldn't even enjoy that simple pleasures he always indulged in. He was feeling even weaker if that was possible. He could barely keep his eyes open or even remain aware of everyone that was in the room. The pain he felt was unbearable, like he was being repeatedly shot up with vervain and it was in his bloodstream, with no way to stop it. He was sweating profusely, wiping his forehead every few seconds. Through his stupor, he vaguely realized Elena grabbed his hand. His mind had been slow on the uptake, but his body immediately jerked at the contact. As soon as she let go, he missed the contact.

He waited for everyone to get settled in before speaking. "So, what's the big news Bonnie?" he asked looking at her, hoping she had something good to tell them. Damon wasn't sure he could stand being in this state for much longer.

"Well I got in contact with the same witch who was kind enough to help us before and got a new clue to hopefully narrow down our search. She told me that Damon's soul mate is someone who he has befriended." Bonnie explained.

Damon's face was one of indifference because, in his mind, he didn't have many friends or people who cared enough to even call him their friend. Except for maybe Bree from Georgia. She had been kind to him and helped him. But she was dead. This made Damon think of a couple of other people in his life that he considered friends, but then remembered that they were dead as well. He thought of a certain Gilbert who was currently listening intently to Bonnie. Damon always valued Elena's friendship, not only because he didn't really have anyone besides his brother before now, but also because Elena had trusted Damon after everything he had done to her and her friends. Elena let Damon in. She'd always do her best to be there when he needed her. In Damon's mind, he didn't deserve that at all because a few good deeds didn't excuse centuries of murder, but Elena thought he was worthy of saving. Worthy of her friendship. "Are you sure that this so-called soul mate is still alive?" Damon asked curiously.

"Yes, the witch told me that your soul mate is alive and well." Bonnie replied. She and Elena were sitting opposite of Damon now, Stefan replaced Bonnie on his left side. The fire wasn't lit because it would be uncomfortable for Damon, and no one wanted that.

"Did she say anything else Bonnie?" Stefan asked, his brows furrowed in deep thought.

"Yes, she told me that there is something they want would take as payment to cure Damon. However, that would be a last resort. Our best option is still to find the actual cure. The full moon is approaching fast, so we need to find out who Damon's soul mate is as soon as possible." Bonnie said sadly.

"Thank you, Bonnie." Damon said sincerely with a small smile. He really appreciated her help especially after everything that he had done to her. From using her for her magic indirectly to killing her grandmother. Yet another thing he regretted doing. "Did they happen to tell you what it is they want? In case the soul mate thing doesn't work out I mean." he asked

"They want Stefan. More specifically they want your immortality." Bonnie said looking at the young Salvatore brother who was as shocked as everyone at this new information.

"They want to turn me into a human?" Stefan asked trying to see if he heard Bonnie correctly. He didn't really know how to feel about this situation. "How long did they give me to decide?"

"Same time frame as Damon so you have to make a decision quickly," Bonnie said sadly before looking at Damon. "I suggest we concentrate on finding your soul mate as soon as the potion takes effect and you feel better." She said.

"Can I speak to you alone for a second Bonnie?" Elena asked getting up from the couch.

"You can go on the front porch, I'll take Damon back up to his room, so he can let the potion work and get comfortable." Stefan said kindly before grabbing Damon and heading upstairs.

Both girls thanked the young Salvatore before going outside. Elena spoke first. "Do you really think Damon has a chance of surviving Bonnie? Is his soul mate close to him? Like emotionally or mentally?" Elena asked, her mind thinking of the different women Damon had met in his life. Was he close to any of them like that? She felt a jolt of jealousy at the possibility but quickly dismissed it.

"The witch couldn't tell me anymore than what she already has. She didn't want to take anymore chances, but I'm glad she's even helping us at all." Bonnie said.

Elena leaned against the front door in deep thought. Losing Damon was something that would surely devastate her. It hurt her to think about it. Yes, upon arriving in Mystic Falls Damon had been an ass. He used, manipulated, and played with Caroline. He had almost killed Bonnie. Twice. Oh, and he had actually killed her brother. But then something changed. For the past year or so, Damon saved her life almost at least every other week. He had saved his brother from himself and looked after him. Damon and her brother had actually started a weird friendship that seemed to help Jeremy. Slowly Damon had become someone Elena relied on. Someone she trusted. Someone she cared for very much.

She really hoped that they will be able to find Damon's soul mate is before they lose him for good. She contemplated on who Damon's soul mate could possibly be. She knew that he didn't have many friends because of his past actions, but Elena considered herself a friend to Damon. But she couldn't possibly be his soul mate. Right?

**Damon&Elena**

Upstairs in Damon's room, Stefan was thinking about what Bonnie had told them. The witches wanted his immortality in exchange for saving his brother. Stefan had regretted completing his transition from the start and yet he hesitated to agree. Stefan wanted to be human yes, but he didn't want to die. That was what was stopping him from immediately saying yes to Bonnie. He needed a little more time to think about this situation. The problem was, time was not working in their advantage.

Damon was laying on the bed. His mind was going through what he just learned. Those damn witches wanted his brother's immortality and he didn't know how Stefan felt about it. How did he feel about it? Well, it was simple really. Damon wasn't worth Stefan's eternity!

The potion Bonnie gave Damon was working slowly but surely, and Damon was getting his senses and strength back. He could now sense the two young humans outside the house. He chose not to listen in to their conversation though. He could feel his muscles becoming stronger and his vision and hearing were returning. He was beginning to feel like his normal self.

The first thing Damon said was "I need a shower to wash all this filth off of me." Stefan chuckled at his brothers' antics and left the room.

He went to his own room and pondered on whether sacrificing his immortality was the right move. If he did do it, that meant he would die soon, if not immediately because how old he was. Stefan didn't want to die, but he didn't want his brother dead either. Stefan figured that he could do this for his brother to repay him for forcing him to turn all those years ago. With his mind made up, he went downstairs to meet the girls who had just stepped back inside.

"Damon's in the shower." Stefan informed them as they sat back down on the couch.

Elena thought about Stefan possibly becoming human and dying. She wasn't ready to lose Stefan. Just because they weren't together anymore, it didn't mean she cared any less about him. She valued his friendship and the way he did whatever he could to make sure she and her friends were safe. She wondered if Stefan would actually go through with it.

A few minutes had passed before Damon showed his face again. He walked downstairs, his hair still wet from the shower. Elena thought that Damon looked much better than when she first arrived, and it gave her hope. Maybe they did have a chance after all. However, Stefan's next words stopped her train of thought in its tracks.

"I'll do it. I'll take the witches deal." Stefan said suddenly breaking the silence in the room, taking everyone by surprise.

"Are you sure Stefan?" Bonnie asked worriedly. She may not have cared much for Damon, but Stefan had always been kind to her. Losing him would hurt her and she would miss him.

"Yes." Stefan said simply. "I have lived more than long enough, and I would rather it be me than you." He explained looking at Damon.

"Stefan you don't…" Damon started to say but was cut off by Elena.

"What if Damon drinks from me?" She said. She had got the idea while talking with Bonnie outside. She thought about what Bonnie had said about being friends with Damon and wanted to give it a try. She cared for Damon and would give anything a try to save him.

Forever the martyr Damon thought with a smirk.