Stefan couldn't help but smile, as he walked into the library. Damon had immediately walked over to the drink cart, after hearing the conversation. Stefan found him with a fake mask of a sated and smug expression on his face and a glass of scotch.

"So… I take it you heard that?" Stefan asked.

"Yeah." He said, starring at his scotch.

"Well, I..." Stefan swallowed, as if choking down the remorse that he couldn't help but feel. He didn't want anything to affect what had just happened. "I'm sorry." For Damon, he reminded himself, I don't regret it. I am not sorry for me, I am sorry for Damon.

"For what?" Damon asked, still faining interest in his swirling scotch.

"Well not for anything really. I don't regret it, but I am apologizing for the fact that the girl you're in love with kissed someone that wasn't you." There was a long pause, and Damon finally looked up at him, his expression unreadable. The intensity of Damon's blank stare made Stefan uncomfortable. He shifted and changed his gaze to his shoes.

"But you aren't sorry it happened?" Damon finally said.

"No." Stefan said, although he didn't, somehow his answer didn't exactly sound believable.

"Well, I'm glad." Damon said, using the faux appeased smile he used when he turned off his humanity. "I have to say, this mopey, dopey, self-pitying Stefan has been getting on my nerves for months. I am glad you finally considered revising and won't be wallowing in all that pent up anger and regret." He said in almost a mocking way, as he exited the room. Stefan sighed and shook his head, he knew he would now be having trouble with Damon, but he couldn't help but feel relieved that Damon didn't punch him. He'd rather not get hit today.

elena held bonnie's hand, as she chanted in latin. elena thought in her head of what she might be doing.

maybe asking the spirits for the spell.

maybe praying to them for strength.

or maybe admitting that she had no idea how to will her best friend to death.

bonnie had once told elena, that a spell must come from a desire. every spell in itself is unique, because it's basically just like a more affective prayer. but to choose between one friend and an other... elena could hardly imagine how anyone could find a willful reasoning in that.

bonnie dropped elena at home when she said she needed rest.

"Well, thanks." Elena said and climbed out of the car. Bonnie caught her arm before the door shut

"Do you want me to be here with you or-"

"No. No, you go home and rest. I have a feeling you might have a small part in the ritual yourself." Elena said before closing the car door.

Bonnie made sure Elena got in to her house before she drove away.

Once the door was closed behind her, she leaned against it and let a silent tear roll down her cheek.

"What's wrong?" A low, warm, familiar voice said, to her right.

"Stefan, what are you doing here?" She asked, whipping away the tear from her face.

"I asked you first." Stefan said. She looked up at him and couldn't remember what exactly the answer to his question was. She felt so hopeless. Even though she had a best friend, and a whatever Stefan was, she felt completely alone. She didn't know what would happen, she never really had. But right now, all the pain she had ever pushed aside was coming up, in salty tears. She let another tear fall. What if this is my last day to live? I don't want to be alone today. She thought to herself. Her knees started to wobble and her hands began to shake. Before she could fall she found herself in Stefan's strong arms, in an instant she was sobbing. He brought them over to the couch, lightening his hold on her ever so slightly as they sat down together. She nuzzled her face in to his chest and grasped at the fabric of his shirt. She never wanted to let him go again.

After a while her tears had slowed, and her sobs became seldom whimpers.

"I don't want to die, Stefan." She said, at last. She had a fist of his shirt in her hand. "i already did." she sobbed louder. "i've already died for him."

"I know." He said, smoothing her hair against the back of her neck. She smiled, but he didn't believe it. The sob that escaped her lips within a moment confirmed his doubts. "Hey," he said soothingly and placed a hand on her face, tracing her jaw-line with his fingers as he lifted her chin to look her straight in the eye. "I know." He repeated. She smiled, but this time it was real. As crazy as it was for the first time in a long time, she really believed that it would all be okay, because he was here. Everything would be okay, as long as he was there.