After Meredith had tried to calm him down, Damon left the hospital. He wanted to go back and see Elena but he still didn't know what to do. He walked around outside for a little until he finally walked back to the hospital. He ran into Meredith again.

"Damon, where are you going?" She said.

"I'm going back to see Elena."

"They left."

Damon just looked at her. She had a sad look in her eyes, but she wasn't sure what to say to him. Meredith didn't know much of what was going on between Elena, Stefan and Damon but she had a few ideas. Alaric always hinted about these things, he was basically Elena's guardian for a while, so he couldn't help but worry about the people in her life. But Alaric always seemed conflicted. Meredith understood his conflict. Elena was stuck in this world of vampires, with two of them always beside her. It was dangerous and risky, but even Meredith who knew very little about the situation, could see that it was inevitable. She saw both brothers' reactions to her that night. They both clearly cared about her. They loved her.

After a few seconds, Damon just turned around and walked away without saying a word.

Elena and Stefan walked into the house. Jeremy ran up to the. Caroline was standing behind them. She looked exhausted and sad, like she had been crying all night.

"What is going on," Jeremy cried earnestly. "Nobody is answering their phones. I have no idea what is going on and the only one who would answer is Caroline. Elena? Elena what is going on? I saw Alaric…his ghost. He said you were dead."

Jeremy let out a relieved sigh and hugged Elena. She held him but suddenly felt a strange draw to him. She realized she was overwhelmingly parched and her eyes shot open.

Caroline was standing beside Jeremy, a hopeful look in her eyes.

Elena finally released Jeremy and looked at him and Caroline.

"I was dead."

Jeremy looked at her, his expression turning from confusion to fear. Caroline was completely still and quiet, she quickly understood what this meant. Then Jeremy spoke again.

"Elena, you can't be a vampire? How, Elena? How did this happen?

"I am so sorry Jeremy," she said. "I should have told you. In the hospital earlier, my injuries were worse but I didn't want to worry you so I asked Meredith to tell you I was fine. She used vampire blood to heal me. And then Matt drove off the bridge and we were drowning…"

"Matt? Where is he is he ok?"

"He is fine, Stefan saved him."

Confusion swept over Jeremy's face again.

"But Elena, why…why did you die?"

"I made him save Matt first, Jeremy." Stefan grimaced as she spoke.

"But I ran out of time," she continued. "I am so sorry Jeremy; I didn't want this for either of us."

Jeremy held her again as they both cried into each others shoulders.

"What are you going to do Elena?"

"I don't know," she cried. "I don't know".

Damon suddenly appeared.

"So what's going to happen?" he asked.

Elena looked at him and slightly shook her head. She looked at Stefan for a second and then looked back up at everyone. "I need a little time," she said. She then slowly began walking upstairs. Nobody followed her. They figured she wanted a little time alone to think.

Jeremy looked confused again. He turned to Damon and Stefan and asked, "How can she be in the house if she's a vampire?"

"She's in transition," said Damon. "She needs to complete the transition and drink human blood for the barrier to actually work."

Jeremy looked down, he was in shock. The idea that Elena could have been gone forever crippled him. He didn't know what his sister was going to do, but he felt helpless. After trying to take her away from this world, he had failed completely. Instead, she has died. He didn't want this for her. Like his sister, he had come to realize that he didn't want this for either of them. But now he could only feel pain. He didn't want her to be a vampire. But he felt more pain now, thinking that she may not want to complete the transition. He realized that very soon, he may truly be alone.

Everyone was still downstairs as Elena went to her room, but Damon soon had an earnest expression on his face and began going upstairs. Caroline just watched and looked over at Stefan. Jeremy had a slightly irritated and solemn expression on his face and Stefan held back his urge to stop Damon. Stefan didn't know how Elena felt, but he still wished Damon would respect her need to be alone for a little. Still, Stefan was conflicted. No matter what he felt, he also felt that he didn't have a right to stop Damon. He finally turned around and sat down on the couch. Jeremy and Caroline were still standing by the stairs, just looking at each other.

Stefan was in such dismay. He could barely handle the situation that was already at hand, so he did his best to ignore what was going on upstairs. He began playing the events of the night over once again in his head.

He suddenly felt someone sit next to him. It was Caroline.

"Stefan," she said. "I know what you must be going through. I just….I can't even…" She began to cry. "I can't believe all of this is happening…Elena's turning into a vampire and Tyler is dead…" She was sobbing now.

"I'm sorry Caroline," he said, trying to comfort her, though he couldn't come close to even comforting himself.

She nodded and finally began talking again. "You can't blame yourself for this Stefan. I know you are, I can see it in your face. You are torturing yourself with this."

Stefan was shaking his head again; his eyes were glazed with tears.

Jeremy finally walked up to them and started to speak.

"She's right, Stefan. I know my sister. She is strong, brave and selfless. I love her and this whole thing is unbearable, but you did the right thing."

Stefan was slightly comforted by their words, but he was still overwhelmed with pain.

Caroline finally got up.

"I don't know how, but we will get through this. We will all be there for her no matter what. We will get through this."

Stefan and Jeremy looked at her. They were appreciative that she was trying to be optimistic, even after going through her own heartbreak earlier.

"I am going to go see Matt," said Caroline. "Call me if you need me or if Elena decides anything." They nodded and then she was gone.

Elena sat on her bed. She could barely gather her thoughts and these images of Damon were once again rushing through her head. She didn't quite understand them. But it was all starting to come back to her. She started thinking over everything.

I don't want to be a vampire. How can I do this? I'm so scared and I don't know what to do. My future is gone…no growing up, no children…

Tears softly streamed down her face.

But I have everyone. They can help me if I decide to complete the transformation. I can't believe this…after all this time, after everything that has happened, I am now dead…

She suddenly felt a presence and looked up to see Damon.

She had concern and disapproval in her eyes.

"Damon, I'm sorry but I need some time to think…"

"Elena, you are completing the transition. I won't allow you to let yourself die. After everything that has happened, you can't let yourself die."

"Damon please, I need to figure this out for myself."

He looked at her with anger and sadness in his face.

Elena's disapproving expression turned to sadness as well.

"It's all coming back to me now, Damon." He just looked at her slightly confused.

"I know what you did. I remember now, all those times you compelled me. I just…I don't even know what to think anymore. Except that I'm sorry Damon. I know how much you have done for me."

He looked down; he didn't know how to react to this.

"Damon I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. I know what you must be thinking right now. I couldn't bare the idea that I was leaving you to die alone, but in that moment I had to be sure that after everything we suffered, Stefan knew that I did need him. And I still do need him, Damon…"

"It's always going to be Stefan," he said, repeating his words from earlier that night.

Elena fought back tears as she stared at Damon. She realized Stefan didn't even know the truth yet.

"I know we went through so much together, Damon. It happened because we both love Stefan; we were fighting for him together. You know I care about you Damon, but—"

"I know," said Damon.

"This isn't even about that anymore, Elena. You are not going to let yourself die," he commanded. Elena looked down.

Damon turned around angrily and began to walk towards the door. He stopped for a second and said, "And I don't love him."

Elena looked up and he was gone.

Jeremy was off to the corner trying to call Bonnie and suddenly Damon was downstairs again. He looked at Stefan with disgust in his eyes.

Stefan got up and walked towards him.

"I know you are angry Damon, but we have to come together to help Elena."

"I know," Damon retorted.

"Jeremy is trying to contact Bonnie. We are trying to find any way to reverse this. Anything at all that may help."

"I'll find her," Damon said. And he quickly disappeared.