Thank you all for your wonderful feedback. I know I said I'd make it a one shot, but thanks to all your support (and a couple ideas I have knocking around), let's see where this goes, shall we? Please enjoy.

The guilt never came.

That wasn't quite true. There was plenty of guilt to go around—always was these days. Guilt over what she'd done to Jeremy, guilt over what she'd done to Rebekah, guilt over Jenna and John dying because of her? Oh yeah, there was still lots of that. But not a scrap of any of it involved what had happened on the porch with Damon Salvatore.

Elena sat on the edge of Jeremy's bed, folding his seemingly endless supply of hoodies and tucking them into a suitcase. He could do it himself, but she wanted to take care of him this one last time. God only knew how long it would be before they met again. Besides, he had goodbyes to make.

Her mind wandered as her hands engaged in the mindless rhythm of folding and packing. Why wasn't she guilty? Wasn't that the right thing? Stefan's absence in her life was still a scar that turned into a sucking chest wound whenever she considered it too long. In a very real way, she still loved him—or at least, she loved the man he had been before he did the noble thing one too many times.

But how many times did he have to say "I don't want you in my life anymore" before she got the picture? This wasn't a matter of compulsion now, not a matter of hidden humanity. Stefan was under his own control and with his morality switch in the fully upright and locked position. But he'd chosen a cold, dark lover over her. Elena could never compete with his revenge.

And it wasn't that she was in love with Damon. She enjoyed spending time with him, missed him when he left, trusted him implicitly, and her heart skipped a beat whenever he turned those freakishly blue eyes on her. But she couldn't ignore what he was.

He was a murderer. He excelled at torture and compulsion. He got what he wanted, no matter what the costs. No matter how sweet and kind and gentle he was with her (memories of blood forced down her throat, memories of violence and savagery), he wasn't a tame vampire.

But he loved her. And when he'd kissed her last night, really kissed her...As much as she missed Stefan, it had never been like that.

Elena lay the last t-shirt in the suitcase and reached into her pocket. She looked down at the item in her hand, looking for all the world like an antique gold pocket watch. She hid the Gilbert Device in a pocket of the suitcase. It was his inheritance, after all. Jeremy ought to have it.

"You ready?" Alaric asked quietly from the doorway.

"Yeah. I was just finishing. I think he's got everything he'll need." Elena zipped the suitcase and Alaric picked it up, setting the large roller bag on the floor. He started to turn towards the door, then stopped.

"You know...it's not too late," Alaric said.

Elena shook her head. "Yes it is. It was too late the moment my baby brother had to cut off someone's head. He's the only family I have left, Alaric. I have to save him, even if it means..." she trailed off. Even if it means you'll never see him again, her traitorous mind whispered.

Alaric nodded. "You're right. You're right. This is what has to happen. He has to have a chance at a life." He glanced at his watch. "We gotta go or he'll miss his flight."

The pair tromped down the stairs with the heavy suitcase, into the driveway where Jeremy stood. When Elena saw his smiling, unburdened face, she knew this was right. Even if that happiness was compulsion-induced, she knew he'd eventually feel it for himself. She forced a smile. She absolutely refused to cry. This was a happy moment: Jeremy's emancipation from the darkness that had swallowed him for so long.

"Thanks for packing for me, 'Lena. I wanted to say goodbye to everyone, and there wasn't much time," Jeremy said.

"Yeah, of course. I'm glad you got to say goodbye." Elena swallowed hard. Goodbyes. Yeah. About those...

Jeremy opened his arms wide to her, his eyes lighting in a genuine smile as she hugged him fiercely. "I'm going to miss you, Elena. You should come visit me, we can do some skiing. You know the Johnsons would love to see you," he said.

For a long moment, she didn't respond. She just held him, memorizing every detail: the smell of his cheap cologne, the unexpected strength of his arms, the low rumble of his voice. And then she pulled away and put on her own best smile. "I'd like that. Maybe for Christmas."

"Guys..." Alaric said, shutting the trunk. "We gotta go, it's a long way to the Richmond Airport."

"You sure you don't want to come to the airport, Elena?" Jeremy asked.

"No, I'm awful at goodbyes." She caught him in another tight hug. "I love you, Jeremy. You're going to love Denver. I'll see you soon."

"I love you too, Elena, but somehow...I don't think we'll be seeing each other soon." He pulled back, hint of confusion in his eyes. "Will we?"

She couldn't lie to him. Not again. She just smiled and shook her head. "I love you. Call me when you get to Denver, okay?"

"Be careful, Elena." With a little wave, he and Alaric climbed into the car and drove off. She watched them until the car disappeared from sight. Jeremy never looked back.

There was a soft breeze, and there was Damon. He opened his mouth to speak, and then thought better of it. And then, wordlessly, he took her into his arms, holding her close.

She pressed her face against his shoulder, clutching him so hard her arms ached. She couldn't breathe. Jeremy was gone, her last trace of family. He'd live, he'd have his chance at a real life, but that was cold consolation when she stood here so alone against the whole damn world.

Well. Maybe not entirely alone.

Elena let out a shuddering gasp for air. Damon was still silent, holding her, stroking her hair. He was simply there, and that was enough.