Damon had actually behaved himself the entire night spent with my friends and schoolmates that I almost forgot how non-normal this normal high-school experience was turning out to be.

He had just left the table we had claimed to grab myself and Bonnie another glass of punch and I smiled stupidly and dreamily at his retreating back, his form causing an instant path through the gyrating bodies.

"You're drooling." Bonnie sing-song at me with her chin propped in her hand, a teasing smile on her lips.

"I can't help it." I whispered to her, my eyes never leaving his body.

"I have to admit, tonight hasn't been so bad."

At her confession, I laughed at turned towards her with raised eyebrows asking playfully,

"Don't tell me you're actually enjoying all the company had at this table?"

She smirked and rolled her eyes before answering matter of fact like,

"Don't push it Gilbert, there's still a long ways to go."

I laughed and nudged her shoulder with mine before we both turned to the dance floor and watched as Caroline and Matt swayed on the dance floor to the pulsing music. Her eyes were bright with happiness and Matt couldn't stop touching some part of her body the entire time.

"They look so happy together." Bonnie murmured with a happy lilt to her voice.

We both cracked up when Caroline turned and gave her a classic 'duh' look, immediately reminding me of the non-normal aspects of our lives.

"You know, a couple of years ago you and I would of laughed the person out of the room if they told us this is where and how our lives would be tonight. Who would have thought that adding a couple of vampires and curses to the mix of our rather normal lives would have had us here?"

Bonnie tilted her head to the side, the lights of the room dancing off her bare shoulders, and said slowly,

"I think it was inevitable."

"What do you mean?" I asked, intrigued with her response.

"Think about it, Elena. I was always destined to be a witch and you were always the doppelgänger. Just like in nature, everything needs a catalyst and ours happened to be said vampires and curses. It's been a bumpy ride, for sure, but it's not like we could have gone on the way we had been for forever. Eventually, something would have triggered the start of all of this. I'm just glad…."

She stopped and closed her lips tightly making me lean in and ask her softly amid the music,

"What, Bonnie?"

"Look, you and I both know I don't condone half of what Damon and Stefan are and have one but if they hadn't of been here, I don't know how long all of us would have survived everything we've gone through. Granted, some events probably wouldn't have even taken place but I don't know if we would have even had a chance to sit here and enjoy this night without them."

I looked towards the dance floor as her finger drew patterns on the tablecloth absentmindedly.

"Bonnie, regardless of where we are tonight I still firmly believe everything happens for a reason. I believe there's order in the chaos, light in the dark, and hope in even the most hopeless of times. I believe we're all here for a reason."

"What's that?"

I took her hand in mine and squeezed it gently while saying,

"Friendship, love, support . . . we're family. No matter what happens or what comes at us, we're there for each other no matter the cost. We're not alone in this, not ever."

She smiled and drew me into a hug, resting her cheek against my shoulder and breathed deeply and more freely than she had in a long time. The song changed to a slow melodic tune and her date tapped her on the shoulder in the universal request to dance.

She smiled at me and discreetly wiped a tear away before standing up to be led to the dance floor as the lights dimmed even further.

"Dance with me."

I looked up and saw Damon standing before me, looking so handsome as his eyes stayed trained on mine and the lights from the oh-so tacky disco ball strung above ran across his features.

"Always."

His lips lifted as I placed my hand in his, feeling his fingers wrap securely around mine as he led me to the corner of the dance floor.

His left arm came securely around my waist as his right hand gripped my left and held it tight to his chest. I could feel warmth from where his fingers splayed low across my back and his body moved mine against his in time with the music.

"Do you remember the last time we danced this close?" I asked him, watching his eyes soften at the memory I was sure was also replaying in his head.

"You looked so ravishing I could hardly wait till the moment our skin could actually touch."

My cheeks stained red at the low timber in his words as I leaned my cheek against his chest, closing my eyes and turning my body off and letting his completely take over.

"Where did you learn to dance?" I asked him softly, feeling his chest rumble beneath my cheek with a small laugh.

"Here, there, everywhere…"

I smiled and tightened my hold on him, not ever wanting this moment to end.

"What's wrong?" He asked me gently, feeling the frantic energy rolling off of me.

I didn't answer him and instead just pushed my cheek further into his chest causing him to do some rather fancy footwork of twirls until we were in an ever more secluded area on the dance floor.

"Elena."

I could never deny him so I lifted my head off to face him and saw his eyes go dark in concern at the tears in my eyes.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" His hands immediately came up to take hold of my face gently, not letting my eyes turn from his.

My fingers clasped the lapels on his jacket and I said shakily,

"Don't ever leave me."

His face went lax in surprise at my words and one of his hands left my face to tighten around my body, pulling me so tight against but not tight enough for my liking. I felt like I wanted to crawl inside of him to ensure I always remained apart of him and he of me.

"Look at me."

His voice was husky causing me to shiver against him as I brought my eyes up to his, so electric blue with emotion I felt snared in his gaze.

"I will never leave you."

My eyes danced back and forth on his as I uttered the words I knew would change everything,

"Then make sure that I can never leave you."

His body went still and with his, so did mine as he studied my face with a clenched jaw and darkened eyes.

Words weren't needed to express my wish or the emotions behind them. I had made my choice and I needed to make sure he knew it, understood it, and accepted it.

The thought of becoming a Vampire when I was with Stefan had caused a breakdown at the time of my life, I hadn't wanted it. I wanted a life with a husband and children and growing old together. Becoming a Vampire was never an option or a choice I ever planned on making.

With Damon, there was no other choice. I didn't want a husband if he didn't have Damon's eyes or face or soul or heart. I didn't want children if they didn't have the similarities of his looks or personality for me to watch from infancy to adulthood. And I didn't want to grow old if it meant every laboring breath I took was to take me away from the man that had breathed life back into me.

His hands came up and cupped my jaw and neck and slowly, his lips came down upon mine with soft flesh and skin meeting his. The avalanche of emotions that came down on me made me whimper and hold onto his body for support.

He either didn't notice or didn't care to comment as his lips pressed harder against mine, instantly making my mouth open into a moan to allow his tongue to flash inside and lick against mine. I didn't feel us move but suddenly my back was pressed tightly against a cold wooden beam so he could raise me off my feet higher to get closer between my legs.

When we broke apart, he leaned his forehead against mine as I panted against his lips and uttered one word in this one moment that solidified everything,

"Yes."