daydreamer4life2011: Sorry! Well... it's to keep you coming back for more! ;D

The Fictionist: No problem, I'll be waiting :D Oh, by the way, I'm going to start watching the VD Series 3 tomorrow :D Can I PM you when I do, and talk about it?

The Day It All Ends Part two - Stefan's POV (4):

5:00pm

Fists flying, overpowering rage. Tears were pouring down his face, tears he could no longer hold back.

He had wanted to hurt his brother, and succeeded, but that was only because he had surprised him.

Now, Damon was fighting back just as hard, harder even. Stefan's nose had broken, and though it had healed, blood was still flowing down.

"What healed her hand when it was dislocated? What healed her head when it looked like she'd stay unconscious forever? What saved her from death though Mitsao thought it'd be justice for her to either die or become a vampire? MY BLOOD!"

At the end of each question Damon had hit him not so forcefully, now his fist connected with Stefan's right cheekbone, and his head flipped back...and that's when he saw Elena stirring slightly.

And what he had neglected to hear earlier...her heart was still beating.

Slowly, he turned his head to look at Damon, who was still holding his shirt in clenched fists "You didn't kill her?"

For the first time, he had a flicker of hope that he could save his brother. His humanity.

As though in answer, he just shoved Stefan closer to Elena. Wincing at the glass still stuck in his back, he went to her, and leant over her.

She came to, and he made sure the first thing she saw was him. "Stefan!" She cried and sat up to hug him.

But he could see that she was a little dizzy and it was an effort for her to sit up. "Shh, don't get up love, you're hurt."

"And so are you!" She was scrutinising him and he pictured what she could see: A bleeding nose, a massive bruise on his right cheek that was fast turning an ugly colour, and a black eye? Oh and an almost completely destroyed shirt.

"Don't worry about me, little love. Tell me if your hand hurts, it's been put back in place." He didn't say by whom. He gave a huge sigh. "I just want to know why you came here, without telling me."

Why! Didn't she know how evil Mitsao was? No, he realised, she doesn't. I never told her about Mitsao! How could I have been so stupid?

He saw her glancing around, obviously still a little disoriented. Her eyes lingered on a certain spot and her breath drew in sharply. Stefan looked too.

Sitting in the far side of the room, near the fireplace was Damon looking as calm as ever. He looked ominous, staring at them with eyes so jet-black, they were darker than night. Stefan was a little pleased to see that he looked a little worse for wear too.

His attention was brought back to Elena when she clutched at whatever was left of his shirt. "Please Stefan," she whispered "Can we just leave?"

Stefan closed his eyes, when he heared the mental question She doesn't believe the premonition, does she? He slightly shook his head.

Quick as lightning Damon jumped up and glared daggers at Elena. "You couldn't let it go? Had to cause a scene didn't you?"

Stefan thought he detected a hint of anxiety, which made his feelings soar just a bit. Was he beginning to care?

Elena looked confused but she was obviously too tired to understand why he was shouting. She stood up "Damon...I just wanted to make sure you knew what you were doing. Of your own accord. It's obvious you do. So we should just leave."

Damon flung his arms up "YOU CAN'T!" He was talking to her, but looking at Stefan. He looked so angry. From the corner of his eye, Stefan saw Elena flinch.

He wished he wasn't the one causing this scene. What happened to the good old days, of only a few weeks ago? They're gone forever, a voice said in his mind, a good imitation of Mitsy's...

Shaking his head, he gently propelled Elena forward. "Elena..." His voice cracked "You should wait at home. Of course you can go." He tried to put as little emphasis as he could on the 'you'. "Me and Damon have some issues to sort out, but I'll come over once we're done."

Elena turned around and he looked in her eyes. They were glistening with fear, longing to be back home snuggled together. "Promise?"

What could he answer to that without saying a lie? He longed for it too. Longed for it so much he wanted to enfold Elena in his arms and whisk her away from this place of darkness.

But he also longed for something else, a bond greater than just love.

He swallowed but said firmly "I'll always be with you."

"That's not answering the -"

"Elena, please. We need to talk. That's all. Bonnie will be waiting outside."

She took a deep breath and he could see that it was an effort for her to smile "I'll see you later then."

She kissed him, gripping him as if she could pull him with her, then let go.

She stopped as she walked up to Damon and Stefan knew the death glare she could give (and was giving) to Damon. Still, he didn't look fazed by it all. One last look back, and she walked through the door to the hallway.

Something in him broke when he realised that this could be the last time he was to see his love. His lovely love.

Now he was alone with his brother.

I think it was a bit appropriate for me to be listening to 'It ends tonight' by All-American Rejects while writing this :P