Not really a missing scene this time…just a little visit into Elena's head in the last couple of scenes of the episode "The Last Dance."
"I will always. Choose. You."
She had to hesitate, to look into Damon's eyes, to see if there was anything there other than the finality, the determination of his words.
She saw nothing else.
She knew then that, if she ever really had a deal with Damon about doing things her way, it was over. No matter how much she insisted that those around her be kept safe, no matter what price she was willing to pay with herself, he would do anything to keep her alive, to keep her safe.
She wanted to argue with him, and she wanted to thank him. It was flattering, comforting and infuriating all at the same time.
She barely managed to whisper "good night, Damon." She was barely able to force herself to turn away from him, from the strength and determination in his eyes.
There was a time when she might not have taken his words seriously, when she might have thought he was just talking, couldn't really do it.
Not now. She had just seen him working with a witch to pull a ruse on Klaus, to hide Bonnie from him. Beyond all reason or understanding, her best friend, the witch who had tried to kill him a few months earlier, was working with him. Conspiring with him, keeping their plan from her. Taking on Klaus
Damon had staked Elijah himself, and when that hadn't worked, he had gotten Alaric and even her to stab the Original with dagger and ash.
She was starting to believe he could do anything he wanted. She was coming to understand that he was willing to do anything to protect her.
She found herself looking back at him a couple of times as she left him standing there, his expression remained unchanged as he watched her leave.
"I will always. Choose. You." The words remained in her mind. He would always choose her, and it seemed he could do anything. Human, and witch, worked with him to keep her safe, but he would let either die to keep her alive. Worse, the human and the witch were just as willing themselves to die for her.
He would give up any of those around her, and worse still, he would give himself up for her. He had already moved between her and an arrow that could have killed her – or him. He had already put himself between her and Elijah when she knew he had no hope of keeping the Original away from her.
"I will always. Choose. You." The words were haunting her now. He had always chosen her, and no matter what he did, no matter who he hurt, she had always done everything in her power to keep him alive, to save him.
His past constantly got him into trouble. In Georgia with an irate vampire, more recently with an irate Bonnie. She had found herself talking to vampire and witch, convincing them to not kill him, to leave him alone. Even if there was no one to talk to, if he was caught inside and in danger somewhere, she would go in after him and bring him out. Whatever he had done before her, to her or around her, she did everything she could to keep him alive.
He was often in danger because of who he was and what he had done, she was in grave danger because of who she was. He said he would always choose her, and he had proven it true. Was she choosing him just as much?
Then she wondered if she had ever apologized to him before. She had slapped him before, and he always just took it, eventually stopping her, never retaliating or taking advantage of his vastly superior strength. He was always perfectly controlled when near her, no matter what she was doing.
"I will always. Choose. You."
She knew that this was not just about Bonnie. The witch was as stubborn as Elena about making her own choices in this situation, and Elena couldn't talk her out of it. She had to accept that Bonnie, Damon and who knew who else would do anything to save her.
Maybe Stefan as well, but there was a difference. Stefan would stay with her until she asked him to leave, then he would leave. Damon wouldn't leave. Stefan would try to save everyone around her like she wanted. Damon didn't care about others, he would do what he needed to do to save her.
Yet Bonnie was alive, Klaus deceived, and the first encounter with the Original apparently a success. Not because of Stefan or anyone else - because of Bonnie, because of Damon.
"I will always. Choose. You," he had said, and he would. No matter the cost, to him or anyone else. He had put himself between her and danger before, he would do the same with Klaus - which would probably get him killed..
He would always choose her, and she would always protect him. Would she choose him as well?
Maybe, but she couldn't think about that now. Protect him first, choose later. She would protect him, and everyone else she loved, the only way she could. She would bring Elijah back.
She had been moving in that direction anyway. Now she started being careful, looking around.
By the time she reached the body, the decision had been made. She didn't hesitate.
"I will always. Choose. You." The words went through her mind as she pulled the dagger from Elijah. The Original was her answer, her way to keep Damon safe this time. She would convince Elijah to keep their original deal, to protect those around her, those she loved – including Damon. As she moved back to sit and wait for Elijah to return, though, she wondered if, just based on the past, she would have to protect the Original from Damon as much as she would have to protect Damon from Elijah.
Finally a smidgen of Delena is back. I could complain about the amount, but I should praise them, encourage them to do more. Though they already know. There's a reason Damon (rather than Stefan) was with Elena in the promos. They know what we want…
Oh, and Elena has figured out that having a witch next to her helps her stay safe. I could point out where we've heard that before, but the obvious is, well…obvious…