I watched in shock as Stefan, Anna and Bonnie came charging out into the clearing. Aralynn and Calista who were standing several feet back caught our expression and turned as well. But they turned too late. Bonnie thrust her hands toward them both and they hit the ground writhing in pain. Right as I saw Anna and Stefan launch to destroy them I turned my attention back to Damon. As if it all began to go in fast forward, suddenly I felt empowered. I would do something, I could do something. Suddenly rays of sun burst out over the hill and Damon shut his eyes, his body writhing under the pain. His skin began to hiss with burn. I ran to the side of him blocking out every piece of light I could with my body and remembered what I had done for Stefan once. It had to work. I stood on my toes thankful that now the only light touching him was his arm and his shoulder. From the muffled groans and his clenched jaw I came to the realization that he was trying to keep quiet for my sake. I shoved my wrist to his mouth.

"Drink!" I screamed. He shook his head violently trying to force away my wrist. I leaned into his ear.

"I would rather be dead then watch you burn." I growled through my teeth. "Now drink!" I shoved my wrist back to his mouth and I finally felt the sweet pain of his bite. I pressed my body as close to him as I could while I embraced the pain of him draining blood from my arm. It began to tingle and turn cold. My vision began to tunnel and then suddenly Stefan was grabbing other arm and yanked me away from Damon. I began to scream and kick and hit Stefan as hard as I could. On his shoulders, his chest and even his face. He looked at me in horror.

"Elena, stop!" I heard Anna from behind me. I turned to watch her shove the ring back on Damon's finger. Right when it was on the links of the chain separated and Damon staggered from the tree. We all stood in silence as we watched his skin heal before our eyes. Stefan grabbed my shoulders and spun me around to face him. He took my wrist and inspected it. It wasn't bad and he sighed and pulled me into him.

"Are you okay? I'm so sorry I wasn't here." He said softly into my hair. He leaned down and pressed his mouth into mine. At first I kissed him back, but then the shock began to ware off and I yanked myself away from him. His eyes snapped into devastation. I turned and looked behind me as I saw Damon taking off into the woods. I ran a few feet after him and then stopped on my heels and turned looking back at Stefan. Bonnie and Anna stood staring at me in shock as they were realizing what was going on. I stood between my two loves. Unable to make my feet move. Then Stefan's eyes softened and he nodded once.

"Go." He said softly. Before I could think I took off as fast as my feet would allow.

I realized once I ran for a few minutes that we were not far from the back of the Salvatore house. I ran to the door and walked in.

"Damon!" I called. There was no answer. I ran upstairs and searched frantically through the corners and rooms. Finally I made it to his room and saw the french doors opened at the end. The white curtains blew carelessly. I knew he was standing out on the balcony. I took a deep breath and walked out to meet him. He stood at the front of the balcony looking out over the woods.

"Damon?" I said quietly. He didn't turn.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yes." I replied. I walked up closer to him but he stayed facing away. "I'm wondering if right now your wishing you hadn't have been saved." I said. He said nothing.

"Damon, I heard what Aralynn said about you not drinking human blood anymore. That was your plan all along wasn't it? To die?" I asked feeling my throat swell with tears.

He still stayed turned away. " Elena, don't worry about me. Please. I told you I just want you to be happy. I realized now that me being gone won't help you with that so I'll be here. However I'm sure Stefan is waiting for you to return so you can go now." He said.

I took another step closer. "I'm not going anywhere. Ever." I replied.

He turned to face me. His devastating beauty taken me by surprise once more. He studied my face for a moment.

"Don't say that." He whispered. His eyes wrecked with pain.

I walked to him and placed my hands on both sides of his face.

"I will never go anywhere your not. I'm yours and yours alone." I whispered.

His face melted into the intoxicating gentleness I couldn't get enough of. He exhaled sharply and suddenly he jerked me up into his embrace. His mouth crashing into mine. My body felt like it was in free fall from weakness. He walked us into the room and we fell into the bed. Our hands were everywhere. He pulled himself on top of me. He grabbed my wrist and looked at it for a second, where the tiny wound was. He kissed it gently and all the way up my arm till he found my mouth again. Just when the fear struck me that he would be backing away at any moment my heart exploded in my chest as I realized it was different this time. He was letting go, peeling the layers away. He was fully mine now. He slid the cloths off my body one by one. The feeling of his skin against mine was almost too much to handle. I felt as his finger tips traced every angle of my body. He looked unbearably deep into my eyes and he took me. I threw my head back and felt like I was out of my own body. His beautiful face was stricken in pleasure and his midnight hair stuck to his face. I held him close and took everything he had to give. It was beauty, it was my new reason to live.

Later that night as I lay wrapped in the sheets with him he kissed the top of my head.

"I love you." He whispered. I looked up at him. He smiled.

"I love you Damon." I replied. He kissed me softly.

"You know this isn't over yet. Right?" I asked him. He nodded.

"I know Katherine is coming." He answered. "We have to be prepared for it." He added.

"Yeah, and that's why I want you to turn me." I said looking up at him. His eyes widened.

"Elena, that's a big decision." He answered.

"A decision I've made. It's what I want." I said.

He nodded and seemed to take off in his own thoughts.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked. He grinned.

"I think we would make an amazing pair. For forever." He added.

Okay guys! :D First of all this is may or may not be the last chapter. To be honest it's kind of up to! If you'de like me to continue please let me know! Regardless. Thank you so much for all the support! PLEASE leave reviews especially for THIS chapter and overall. I love to hear your take on all of it. Let me know!

Alexis Johnson