Timeline 2x21 & 2x22

She was bandaging his arm silently, her face closed. Damon hadn't wanted to, but in addition to hurting like Hell, it itched too, and if he started scratching it would only make it worse. If that was even possible.

So Elena was now playing nurse – a fantasy often played in his mind but obviously not in those circumstances – because Stefan was so upset he couldn't keep his mouth shut. But Damon had to admit, the profuse sweat and dizziness also had been pretty revealing. There's no way Elena wouldn't have notice sooner or later.

"So, Elijah bailed on us, uh ?" he said in an attempt to break the heavy silence and wanting to provoke a reaction. Any reaction.

He wasn't disappointed when she sent a murderous glance his way. "Yes, he did. And if you tell me 'I told you so', I swear to God I'll bite your other arm."

Despite the pain, he smiled. That was his Elena, feisty and so, so brave. Her eyes were still red from crying after losing Jenna in such horrific conditions, and probably a tiny bit was for John, too. But she was still standing, taking care of her brother, of her friends, seeming ready for the next fight.

It was a pity he wouldn't be there to see it.

A pain much sharper than the one eating his arm pierced his heart. He had to know.

"Do you hate me?" he asked, bracing himself for the answer.

She finished the bandage and closed the first-aid kit before turning to him. There was a mix of sadness, tenderness and anger in her eyes that left him confused.

"Hate you for what, Damon? Abusing one of my best friend for weeks?Killing my brother? Using Andie Starr as your plaything? Force feeding me your blood? Call me irresponsible or insane or whatever, but no, I don't hate you for that. I've actually forgiven you."

His blue eyes weren't leaving her face, drinking in her every word. He hadn't even hoped for that. He actually would have settled for 'I don't detest you that much.'

So now he could die in peace. Except that after that speech, he didn't want to die at all.

Of course she wasn't finished.

"But letting yourself get bitten by a werewolf...That I can't forgive you," she ended, and her voice broke on the last word.

He hated himself for putting her through this on top of everything else. Their relationship had evolved in a spectacular way lately, and after that kiss in his room he had been truly happy, and hopeful for the first time in 145 years. And of course, being Damon, he had to go and screw it all up with that dumb move of forcing his blood on her. But the idea of losing Elena now had been too much and he had lost his mind.

The fact that she forgave him was nothing short of a miracle.

His throat was too constricted to utter a proper sentence, so he took her in the circle of his arms. She put her arm around his neck, her body molding so naturally to the contours of his lean one. Damon knew he had to imprint that moment in his memory, because there wouldn't be another one. He pressed her a little tighter against him, trying to convey all his love and devotion in one embrace. And for all his usual witty remarks and clever repartee's, this time his brain was drawing a blank and he couldn't find the right perfect words to say.

Or maybe he was just still afraid to say it.

So he just asked, "Will you think about me sometimes?"

He felt her get very still before taking a step back and watching him with incredulity.

"What?"

"Will you think about me sometimes?" he repeated. "You and Stefan?"

Elena couldn't believe her ears. Was he really thinking he was worth so little that they would forget about him the instant he was gone?

Until that moment she realized that she had never understood how emotionally damaged he was. And the last few months he had been so bend on protecting the town, herself, her brother and her friends.

But there had been no one to protect him. Especially not from himself.

Had they really been all so blind? Anguish and regret seared her heart at that thought. But she couldn't break down now.

She took his face in her hands and told him in a choked voice , "Damon Salvatore, I will think about you everyday of my life."

He closed his eyes, letting the words sinking in. And if it didn't have any soothing effect on his wound, it certainly did on his wretched soul. And he needed that like he hadn't need anything else in his long existence.

And he wasn't afraid anymore.

"I love you, Elena."

"I love you too, Damon."

And just like that he was back, with his trademark smirk and despite the growing feverish look in his eyes.

"You're not just saying it because I'm dying, are you?"

"No Damon, I'm not," she said, smiling. She had known he would refuse to make a big emotional moment out of it. But the look of pure bliss on his face was testimony enough of how he really felt.

"What about Stefan?"

"He knows. We're ok."

"And he still want to save me?" he joked lightly.

"More than anything."

And it was a simple as that.