Elena wakes up and she looks over to Damon.

Her first thought is that he is so beautiful, and right now all she wants to do is get lost in the ocean of his eyes. They remind her how much she is loved, adored by him. They tell her everything about him. But right now he knows what she needs is some time alone to process everything, so he pretends to sleep so she can make an easy escape. As always Damon is giving her what she needs with out hesitation.

She places a kiss of his forehead and pulls on his shirt. She has her shorts and tank top on, it's not cold, but she needs to feel him, to smell him. Having that helps keep her calm. He can always give her that.

This is one of the many things she loves about him, one of the many differences between the Salvatore brothers.

Stefan could be overbearing sometimes, Damon knew when to walk away. Damon was impulsive, Stefan thought about every angle. Stefan loved with his whole heart, Damon loved with everything he was.

Once she gets to the kitchen she puts a pot of coffee on and looks out the window. The weather was ugly. It was rainy and dark, the weather reflected how they all felt.

"Sorry. I thought it was Damon down here." She turns to see Stefan leaning against the wall. He looks her over, taking in her attire. She notcies and quickly replies.

"Don't be sorry. It's your house."

"It's yours too."

"I'm glad you said that. Do you mind if I stay here awhile? If not it's fine. I just-" She starts to ramble and she's glad he knows her well enough to speak up so she doesn't keep going.

"Elena. Stop. You can stay here as long as you need. You don't need my permission."

"I know, but I know that this is hard for you. I don't want to make it any harder. I just can't go home."

"I know. I can't pretend I don't love you anymore. I know Damon loves you too, and you love him, right?" Stefan knew that she had feelings for Damon, he just didn't know they were this deep. She doesn't blame him for having doubts, Damon still did too, she was sure of it. Sometimes he looked her her like he was waiting for her to run back to Stefan. Like as soon as he skrewed up she would leave without a second thought, the thing was no matter if he skrewed up or not she was here to stay. She may have had doubts too, but that was before. Before she knew what really being with Damon was like. He was consuming, and passionate, and everything she didn't know she needed until he gave it to her.

"Elena?" She sips her coffee and looks back to Stefan.

"Sorry, I zoned out for a second. Stefan I can't do this right now. Especially today."

"Right. That's actually why I came to talk to Damon." Thankfully he lets it go. Even if it's only for now. She knew this conversation was inevitable but it didn't stop her from dreading it.

"About the funeral?"

"The time."

"It's at nine. You can talk to Damon about the rest. He's awake."

"Okay."

"Stefan?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you remind him about getting some of my things? I just need to be alone for awhile."

"I'll tell him." He gives her an understanding nod.

"Thank you." She gives him a small smile. A part of her wants to hug him, cry, and tell him she loves him and she's so very sorry. Except she can't do that because it will give him false hope, that maybe someday. That day would never come, she could never leave Damon. Even after only a short amount of time she knows with him is where she has to be. She wants Stefan to know she still loves him, just not the way she did before, and he should know that. Just not right now, the dust had to settle a bit more with the brothers. She doesn't want either of them to think she made a rash decision either.

She wonders what he would think of all this. How he would feel. She smiles to herself, and the tears fall immediatly after.

So many casulties.

It started with her parents. Matt's mom leaving, Bonnie's Gram dying, Caroline's transition. Vicki, Mayor Lockwood, Rose, Anna, Isobel, John, and Bill. All dead.

They were all gone in such a short time.

And now him.

He was part of this dsyfunctional family that they had. He was integral, and now he was gone. They would mourn him, they would bury him, and they would move on. That was how they did things. It was how they had to do it, otherwise they would all end up in some sort of mental hospital.

How many more people would die because of who they were, who she was?

Witches, werewolves, vampires, and a doppleganger.

Klaus was gone, but who would come next? Who else wanted her blood? She could only think of one way to prevent that.

And it would mean breaking Damon's dead heart.

But it meant that they call could survive, that Damon would survive.