Over the next few years, Elena and Damon made the most of the time they had together. They fought like crazy but made up just as easily and spend the next few days in bed afterwards, starting the whole process over. Elena came to believe Damon when he said he made 'one hell of a naked breakfast'. They never missed the opportunity to tell the people they loved how they felt and made memories with them when they could. They didn't tell anyone what was going to happen in case it wasn't true. And they were ready to die in case it actually was. God knows Stefan would try to stop them if they let one thing slip. So they were extra careful to try and not act suspicious. Elena spent time with Jeremy when she could, told Caroline how much she appreciated her and loved her every time she could in situations were it wouldn't be awkward, and Damon spent time with his brother and mother, they were becoming a family again. If that's what one could call it when the mother couldn't love her own children anymore. Regardless, the messy lives that Elena and Damon led together and away from each other were stitching up like pieces of a puzzle. As if this was meant to happen. Maybe the Doctor's ship had come at just the right time after all.
It was the day after one of Damon and Elena's fights; they didn't want to lose each other and were overly paranoid that it was becoming reality when in truth they'd never been closer, and they were holding each other in their arms, under the covers, just reveling in the sound of unneeded breathing, the morning sunlight falling on each other's skin and hair. They planned to spend the day like this, like they'd done before a few times. Lying in bed, making love and just enjoying the silence. Then there came the noise they'd grown used to listening for. It was time. They looked at each other.
"I love you." Elena told him. Damon nodded.
"I love you too." He replied. They kissed once, long and deep, and then hurried to get dressed before the Doctor came to their door. He'd promised he was going to look after them and try his hardest to keep what he read about from happening. Soon they were dressed and then they stood across from each other in Damon's bedroom, just staring at each other. Then they walked towards each other and embraced, burying their faces in each other's hair and neck. Elena wouldn't be surprised if the Doctor walked in right then and witnessed their moment, but when he didn't she knew he wanted to give them as much time as they could possibly have. Elena pulled back and Damon looked up at her, staring back into her eyes as she was staring into his. Then he touched her hair.
"It's time." He murmured. She nodded, and numbly turned around. She led him out of the bedroom and they walked to the Doctor who was standing at their entrance, looking after them. The face he wore broke Elena's heart. But after a minute of silence, there was nothing she could say, she thought, that would take the sad eyes from his face.
"Oh cheer up!" The Doctor said suddenly, meeting Damon and Elena's hard eyes with a grin. "Whatever's going to happen hasn't happened yet. You're not dead so act like it."
"Well, technically…." Elena began
"Whatever. Are we ready to go or do we want to chat for a bit more? Still have a few more minutes." The Doctor offered. Damon looked at Elena expectantly.
"Why are you looking at me?" She asked.
"I already made my choice, your turn." He replied. She stared at him and then the Doctor
"I want to go now, have some sort of plan so that we can try and survive." She said. Damon squeezed her hand and she knew he'd been thinking the same thing.