"We do not have to kill her," Elena turned on Damon with one hand resting haughtily on her hip. Caroline and Stefan assumed a passive stance, sensing an argument coming on.

"Yes, we do. I hate to get in the way of your morals, Elena," Damon said sarcastically, "But this is one of those tricky situations where murder is the only answer."

"Oh, come on, Damon!" Elena exclaimed, "You know that I don't care if Katherine lives or dies. I fear what Klaus can do more than what Katherine can do."

"Klaus needs us more than we need him." Damon countered, "If he kills you, he's screwed. Katherine has no qualms killing you."

"He does have a point," Stefan interjected, stepping forward to physically insert himself into the conversation. Elena glanced at Stefan. She didn't want to have this conversation with Damon in front of Stefan and Caroline. She figured that she could have better results if she talked with Damon alone.

"Will you guys excuse us for a second?" Elena asked Stefan and Caroline. Stefan nodded and stepped back. Elena grabbed Damon's hand and dragged him into the hallway. She turned to him and crossed her arms.

"Klaus needs me more than he needs you," Elena whispered. She didn't know why she was whispering; no matter what she did, Stefan and Caroline could still hear them. It was more of an instinct from when she was human.

"I can deal with Klaus," Damon whispered back, "Katherine needs to go first though."

"Why? Because she wants to kill me?" Elena asked. Damon widened his eyes and nodded as if to say 'obviously.' "Well, that's a constant state of living for her. She hasn't killed me yet, so why would she succeed now?"

"Katherine has Stefan's blood," Damon said the words slowly and clearly, "She can paralyze both of us. She can even kill us, if she wanted. She can do anything! All she has to do is get a witch to cast the spell. I wouldn't be able to protect you!"

"You don't need to!" Elena whisper-shouted in response. Damon narrowed his eyes.

"I will always protect you," Damon said straightforwardly. Elena looked at his blue eyes and felt herself began to soften. She and Damon seemed to get into a lot of arguments, but they always happened because they loved each other too much.

"I know," She took his hand and entwined their fingers. They stood silently for a moment, lingering on each other's touch. "Do you see a future with me?" Elena asked.

"I've always seen a future with you," Damon instantly responded. Elena smiled. He stepped forward so their bodies were pressed against each other. Elena's heartbeat picked up at the close proximity and her breathing quickened.

"We could get a little white picket fence…" Elena flashed Damon a playful smile and toyed with his fingers.

"Oh yeah, and adopt little babies and never turn them or tell them about vampires. They'd be so confused as they age and we don't." Damon chuckled and Elena also laughed at the thought.

"Maybe not." She said. Damon smiled down at her and she returned his smile. But, her face quickly straightened with seriousness, "Damon, there's nothing I want more than an eternity with you. But a key part of an eternity with you is the you part."

"Elena…" Damon said hesitantly. She knew what he was about to say, and she didn't want to hear it.

"No, Damon. We kill Katherine, Klaus kills you."

"Katherine would happily kill me, too," Damon argued, determined to make Elena see his reasoning.

"I don't think so…" Elena said. Damon furrowed his brow in confusion. Elena read the look, "Katherine likes to have you and Stefan for rainy days. And, even if she wanted to kill you, she couldn't do so without killing Stefan, and she doesn't want to do that."

Elena searched Damon's face for hurt, but he displayed none. A little smile curved onto her lips because maybe Damon had finally moved on from what Katherine had done to him, and maybe he was finally secure in Elena's love for him.

"I'm not saying that you're right, but you do have a point," Damon conceded.

"So, we'll find an alternative?" Elena asked. Damon sighed.

"We can try…" Damon said. Elena smiled widely and grabbed the front of his shirt. She pulled him down to her lips and kissed him slowly and sweetly, their lips melding together like puzzle pieces. She ran her hands down his chest and snaked them so that she was touching the bare skin of his waist under his shirt. She rested her hands there.

Damon tenderly placed his hands on her neck, gently tugging her closer to him. Elena broke the kiss.

"Thank you," She whispered against his lips.

"Shh," Damon whispered back. He joined their lips again. His lips were soft and warm against hers.

They were not lost in lust like usual. They were lost in a different form of passion, one of unequivocal love.

He pulled away and then quickly began kissing her again, this time from a different angle.

Just then, they heard someone clear their throat behind them. Elena pulled away quickly and looked around Damon. Stefan was standing in the kitchen doorway, blatantly hurt from the scene before him.

"Stefan," Elena coked out. She looked up at Damon who was still staring at her, infatuated by her. But, at the sound of his brother's name, he turned around to face Stefan.

"So, you've reached a decision?" Stefan asked, trying to conceal his emotions. Elena nodded.

"Now all we have to do is find a way to appease both evils."

AN please review!