Author's Note:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Okay I'm so sorry for the delay. But my computer seriously needed to be fixed. But I'm back now and since it my birthday I decided to make this chapter a little bit longer than normal. But sadly this is the final chapter. So here is chapter twenty…the finale. Enjoy!

Chapter XX

Two Weeks Later

General POV

Elena stood in a long sleeve black dress that stop mid-thigh as she stood with Caroline and Bonnie at her sides as they watched the mayor's coffin being lowered into the ground.

The town of Mystic Falls gathered for the funeral of their beloved mayor. Mayor Lockwood had been in the basement, because strangely the device had affected him too and was killed by one of the tomb vampires.

The town was told by the Sheriff's office that both Stefan and the mayor had been trapped in basement when the fire started, due to a gas leak and by the time the anyone knew of the fire it was too late.

Elena had forgiven Bonnie for what she had done and slowly but surely they were rebuilding their friendship. Caroline was finally let in on the secret and actually kept her mouth close about it, she was angry with Damon for what he had done , but actually she forgave him.

Jeremy and Anna where completely safe during the events of founder's day and where now going steady. Pearl had officially and fully accepted their relationship and had become a motherly figure also to Jeremy and becoming great friends with Jenna. Bonnie and Harper where also seeing each other and Jenna, Alaric, Caroline and Matt where the same as always.

John had left town the day after founder's day after he tried to reason with Elena the night of Stefan's death.


FLASHBACK

Founder's Day

The Gilbert Residence

General POV

Elena had come home after leaving Damon at the boarding house. She would have stayed and comforted him, but Damon said he just wanted to be alone, so she respected his wishes, but asked Pearl and Anna to watch over him.

Elena walked into the kitchen to find John with a cup of coffee in his hand as he gave her small smile as she glared at him.

"Elena. You were never supposed to find out… I did this for you…" Elena raised her hand to cut him off as she continued to glare at him as she leaned against the counter.

"Just stop! You did this for yourself…you did this out of the fear…Stefan didn't deserve to die." Elena said as her anger began to rise. John moved to stand in front of her.

"Elena I'm your father and I did this…to protect you." Elena gave a small annoyed laugh.

"Really…then if you were worried about my safety, again why is Isobel still 'alive'. Why makes her so much less dangerous than Stefan or Damon or Pearl hmmm?" John stayed silent. Elena smirked as she noticed the knife lying behind her next to John's hand with his magic ring, as it rested on the counter.

"That's what I thought…"Elena said proudly as she reached behind her a grabbed the knife and before John could react, Elena stabbed John in his abdomen. John cried out in pain as he fell back onto the floor as Elena drove the knife deeper into his flesh as she came to crouch beside him and spoke.

"One more thing…and I'm going to stay this once…I don't want you in my life…this is your first and only warning…if you ever, ever try to harm anyone that care about again, father or no father, I will end you…and you will never see it coming." With that Elena violently took the knife out, gaining a cry of pain from John before she left him to die.

By the next morning John was already alive again, thanks to his ring and was nowhere to be found.

END OF FLASHBACK


The crowd began to disperse as Elena caught side Damon standing off into the distance. Elena separated herself from the crowd and made her way over to Damon.

She had not seen Damon since Stefan's funeral. Damon had been a disoriented state since John staked Stefan, she and Alaric had to plan the funeral. After Stefan was killed, Elena had finally figured out her feelings towards to Damon and wanted nothing more than to comfort him and tell him how she felt, but she understood he need time to heal.

Elena came to stand behind Damon as he stood in his all black attire as he looked down at Stefan's grave.


It read:

Here Lies:

Stefan Gregory Salvatore

November 5, 1992 - May 13 2010

Beloved son, brother & friend.

He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.


Elena saw a small tear fall from Damon's cerulean eyes as she moved and wrapped her arms around him as she rested her head against his back.

"I'm sorry!" He said after a while. Elena unwrapped her arms from him as she turned him around to face her.

"For what?" She asked clearly confused. Damon looked in her the eye as he brushed his hand against her cheek.

"For shutting you out…I should have helped with the funeral arrangements…I should have at least have said thank you for at least saving my life…" Elena placed a finger to lips as she gave him a small smile.

"You have nothing to be sorry for…I understand…and I didn't save you Bonnie did." Damon shook his head.

"No you did. Even if Bonnie did have a change of heart, she did it for you…and I want to thank for that…because that means, somewhere along the line you decided that I was worth saving." Elena looked into his eyes and saw how vulnerable he was being right now.

"Damon you were always worth saving… you have always had good in you, you just went down the wrong path." Damon gave Elena a small smile. Elena continued to stare into his eyes, getting in lost in those blue orbs as Isobel words replayed in her head. Because he's in love with you.

"Was it true…what Isobel said?" Elena whispered. Damon stared into Elena's eyes, his head in turmoil as he final regained the courage to speak.

"Yes…I do love you." Damon said. Elena didn't respond as Damon turned his head away from her, hurt clear on his face, he had hoped the feeling was mutual.

Elena felt a wave of happiness wash through her as pulled Damon's face back to her and kissed him. Damon felt as if he had died and gone to heaven as he deepened the kiss. Elena was kissing him, of her own free will…and sober. This was the happiest day of his life. Elena felt as if she was on cloud nine. She felt her knees go weak as Damon wrapped his muscular arms around her. They finally pulled back as the stared into each other's eyes as both smiled still holding unto each other.

"Damon…I love you!" As soon as those words left her mouth, Damon felt as if his dead heart would beat again.

"I love you too…I love so much!" Elena smiled as he pulled her into the another kiss and held her tightly, never wanting to let her go and he would never have to.

THE END!


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