A/N: Sorry! I know the wait was absolutely ridiculous. So anyway, here it is. We start to see the past events splitting off now, anyway, since I'm being good and not babbling as much I'll let you go. So let me know what you think, I hope you enjoy it and see you at the bottom. Also I've finally listened and from this point on, for now at least since I haven't gotten round to going back yet, I have put one time line in italics. I'm not sure on the continuity of which will be in italics as I will probably do which ever timeline has the smallest section in italics depending on how you feel about it. So for this one The Stefan and Elena future is in Italics. Unless there is a heading. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries or the characters etc...

So on with the next chapter...

Chapter 17

They all turned to see Bonnie slowly coming around. As she slowly became more aware of her surroundings, or rather the changes in her surrounding, her heart beat began to accelerate further as she began to realised something had gone wrong. She turned to see herself surrounded by the same familiar faces she had seen only moments before. So had she bought them all here? Wherever here was? Upon closer inspection of one of the faces that was peering at her she noticed something different. Elena, she looked older somehow. Different. She looked back at Caroline and Stefan, only to notice another difference. There expressions where one of worry and concern, appropriate given the situation, by the expressions of both Damon and Elena had those emotions missing. Theirs were ones of mild amusement and a knowing look that made them both seem older and more informed than the rest of them. Thoroughly confused and still light headed from being unconscious Bonnie waited a few moments more before speaking. Regardless of what had happened she would need to be the one to get them out of this, so she told two deep calming breaths before as calmly as she could asking.

"What just happened?" Caroline and Stefan winced slightly at Bonnie's raised voice.

"Your spell went wrong." Damon told her bluntly. Elena nudged him slightly, scolding him for not being more sympathetic.

"Something happened when you started to modify the spell, it sent you here, 30 years into the future, this future; where me and Damon are together." Elena started to explain.

"And sent your Damon and Elena into the future where Stefan and Elena are together." Damon finished.

"Wait a second." Caroline spoke up, "Why didn't you explain this all to up before?" she paused a second as another question filtered in to her mind. "And how do you know all this?"

"Really Blondie? You haven't figured it out yet?" Damon piped up. Again Elena gave him a scolding look, though the power behind it was lacking due to the amusement hiding under it.

"It's part of our past, so obviously we remember it." She finally explained.

"That's why you had your witch working on the spell before, and already had everything in place. Because you were expecting us." Stefan finally put it together.

"But wait, you aren't here with us to know..." Caroline trailed off.

"You really thought you'd stay quiet about this and wouldn't spill it all to Elena the moment you got back?" Damon asked pointed out.

"Wait a second, what are you talking about with another witch. It's only a 30 years on right? Where am I?" Bonnie asked, she could feel panic and dread rising, she could guess at what the answer may be and the look on their faces all but confirmed it.

"How about we fill Bonnie in on the story and then continue it?" Elena suggested, swiftly changing the topic.

5 Years into the Future-Both Futures

Bonnie, Elena and Jeremy were waiting at the boarding house when they all arrived back. The solemn faces and fact that they were alone instantly alerted them to the fact that the plan had been a failure.

"What happened?" Bonnie demanded an answer.

"Her cousin was in town, we weren't prepared." Stefan started.

"We got the witch but her cousin used her magic on me." Tyler continued.

"He snapped the witch's neck. We had to run." Damon explained.

"He didn't mean to!" Caroline defended. "The witch started shouting threats, we're sure she meant them. We have to protect Tyler somehow!" Caroline started to sound more distressed towards the end. Bonnie stood for a moment considering what had happened and trying to come up with a solution. Elena only stood shocked. She knew that Klaus' plans always ended in death but she still hated to think another person was death because of her.

"I think I have a spell that can help Tyler. It won't be easy and it won't be a complete solution but I think I can work something. You're still gonna have to run though. You can't stay here. She won't be able to find you magically and she won't be able to harm you from a distance but if she finds out where you are and can get close enough you would still be in trouble." Bonnie warned. Tyler nodded having no other options if he wished to stay alive, or whatever he was as a hybrid. Caroline took his hand in hers as she realised she would once more have to say good bye to him as he went on the run.

The next half hour was spent finding the spell in Bonnie's grimoires and gathering all the things they needed for said spell. Once it was all prepared, Bonnie cast a circle round Tyler with some of the herbs she had collected.

"This is only the first part, it is slightly stronger but less permanent than the second part but it will buy us time. I can already feel her magic trying to reach out to you. The circle is to contain the spell only to you." Bonnie explained. She then started to cast her spell as the others stood back and watched. Once she had finished they all turned to look at her expectantly. Nothing visible had happened but Bonnie seemed content as she began gathering things up.

"Is that it?" Damon questioned doubtfully. Bonnie gave him a pointed look then turned to address Tyler again.

"For now you are safe. Next I need to bind the spell to an object. This will be the permanent part. A ring or something usually works best since you'll need to be in contact with it at all times. It will protect you but only as long as you wear it. However if you are within about 10-20 miles of her then the ring will do nothing. That's why you need to run. This temporary spell will keep you shielded up to about 10 metres but it's tied to me and is temporary. I'll need something related to the witch, and something that's part of you."

"Like a strand of her cousin's hair?" Caroline asked as she plucked the strand from Tyler's jacket.

"It's not the strongest bond but we don't have time for any better so it'll have to do." Bonnie agreed as she nodded. "Your blood would probably be easiest. And a strand of hair." Bonnie requested. Tyler quickly pulled out a strand and handed it to the witch. She promptly twisted the two strands of hair together. She then took a knife she had bought in with the herbs and pricked Tyler's finger, letting the blood drop onto the two hairs. "I'll need something to bind it to." She reminded them.

"I got it!" Caroline exclaimed. "A watch. You can bind it to a watch."

"That's not a bad idea. I mean, it'll look normal and its useful in its own right." Elena suggested.

"I don't k-" Tyler began to protest.

"My dad's," Caroline suggested. "So you can have me with you. Even though we can't be together." Caroline told him somewhat tearfully as it began to dawn that she truly would not be seeing him.

"Whatever it is I need to soon." Bonnie reminded them as she began to focus on the two strands of hair.

"I'll be right back." Caroline insisted before she disappeared. Moments later she returned, watch in hand, which she quickly handed to Bonnie. Bonnie laid the hair on the underside of the watch face. She then took a hair of her own and laid it with the other two and concentrated on it. Almost imperceptibly the hair disappeared into the watch, leaving barely a trace, just a faint indented line in the watch where it had once been.

"Done." Bonnie said as she handed it to Tyler. "I added my own hair to prevent anyone from forcing me or anyone from my line to find you." She explained. Tyler nodded and thanked her. "I can hold the first spell up for the rest of the day I think but you need to be out of range by midnight. I'll have to drop it then to try and help Elena."

"Okay, I'll be gone by then. Thank you Bonnie." Tyler said sincerely before putting the watch on and taking Caroline's hand to lead her to a more private place to say good bye.

The two Salvatore brothers had left the room to plot a plan B and Elena remained in the parlour with Bonnie.

"I'm going to die tomorrow night." She stated. Bonnie turned to her.

"No you're not, we won't let you. And failing that, Klaus' plan will work, and you'll be human. That's not so bad is it?"

"You know 5 years ago, when I first turned it was all I wanted, but now... Now I'm not that person. How do I go back? Will everyone expect me to?"

"Elena, we all love you for you. We won't judge you." Elena heard Bonnie's words but she didn't for a second believe them. They had never been completely true. Instead she just nodded a response.

"I still need to decide though don't I? Whether I did tomorrow or become human?" It was a rhetorical question. She already knew she had to. This time it was Bonnie's turn to respond with just a nod.

"Another glass?" Future Elena asked, though she was already pouring both Damon and Elena another. She turned the old letter over in the hands a few times. "Elena," she paused as though unsure whether to continue with her initial intention. Elena looked at her and she drew her courage to go on. "Here," she passed her the letter, "I'd like you to read it. I know it's addressed to Damon but I still think you should read it first." She explained as Elena took the letter.

"When did you write it?" Elena asked recognising her hand writing but unable to recall writing a letter like this herself.

"Well, I guess I should get to that part of the story first, shouldn't I?" She smiled as she began to tell it once again.

5 Years into the Future- Stefan and Elena Future

"It's just so hard Bonnie. I love them both." Elena explained, needing to say it out loud to another person before she made her final choice, and told them.

"Why?" Bonnie asked. Partly out of curiosity, she still struggled to see it with Damon, and partly to allow Elena to hear her own answers.

"I don't know. Stefan's safe, and he listens to me. I know he'll always respect my decisions. Damon isn't. He'll always put my life first. He'll be the one to keep me alive. And he'll never leave me. Stefan wouldn't unless I asked or I chose Damon but Damon would always stay. Not that that's any reason to base a decision on. I have to stop going back and forth again."

"You do know that you can't just choose Stefan because Damon won't leave and you won't have to let him go right?" Bonnie checked, some concern creeping into her voice.

"Yes I know," Elena sighed. "It's just there's something dangerous about Damon, being with Damon, And Stefan... I know I'd be okay. I wouldn't get broken. Maybe if I'd been with Damon in the past things would be different. I know what it's like with Stefan. I can be happy, with Damon... I don't know. Things could be great, but they could also be terrible. And maybe it's selfish but I don't have the option to try it and go back to Stefan if it doesn't work out." She finally confessed.

"It sounds like you made your decision." Bonnie stated, though she didn't sound all that happy. Elena nodded though she showed no pleasure at this.

"I have to tell them now don't I?"

"You do, the sooner the better right?"

"Okay, I can do this." Elena pepped herself up as she set off in the direction she'd seen them go in.

"I wrote the letter that night when I began to realise my mistakes. I left it for Damon to find when he came home." Future Elena explained. "I'd like you to read it Elena." The older woman explained. Nodding Elena took the hint and disappeared into another room to read it, leaving her older self with Damon for their long awaited talk.

"So, I guess it's time we had our talk isn't it Damon?" Elena turned her attention to the Damon from her past.

So, I hope you enjoyed it. The 'past' scenes have now split. I know there was quite a lot of them but certain parts need to be explained before they can be discussed. I know many of you want Damon and Future Elena's conversation. I was going to put it in this chapter but I figured it was long enough and couldn't resist leaving it till next chapter, what can I say, I'm evil. Okay, I'm planning to end on Chapter 20, just advanced warning. It's slowly starting to wrap up now. To Guest, Sorry for the wait, I can't believe it's been 5 months. It's just ridiculous. I hate it, but thank you for the review. Anyway, as I said, I hope you enjoyed it, let me know what you think and see you in the next chapter. (*smiles*)