This missing scene is a continuation of the conversation between Alaric and Elena at the end of Season 6, Episode 1, I'll Remember…

"Since I can't take away my vampirism, I want you to take away Damon…I want you to compel me to forget that I ever loved him."

At first, all Alaric did was stare at Elena. He had trouble processing what she was saying.

Elena wasn't surprised. He had seen the turmoil in her life while she was trying to sort out her feelings for Damon, but Alaric knew what she really felt, even before she did. He had died before everything came together, but she knew from her conversations with Damon, if not from those with Alaric himself, that he had been rooting for Damon to win her over. Her request had to be a surprise for him. It was certainly a surprise for her.

She stared right back at him until he broke eye contact with her. She had no idea what he was thinking until he spoke.

"You don't want that," he said, his back to her. "Not really."

His back was still towards her, so she took a step towards him and touched his arm.

"You're right," she said as he turned to face her again. "I don't really want that. I want to be with Damon forever. I've wanted it for a lot longer than I've been willing to admit it. You know that."

He nodded as she continued. "I want Jeremy to be healthy and happy, and I want the same for the rest of you. I want my parents back…and Jenna, and…" She cut herself off, closed her eyes and shook her head before adding, "But what I want doesn't seem to matter. I can't have any of it."

"Elena," Alaric said softly, "you can't give up. You can't lose hope." He had to pull her chin up to look at him. "Look at me, I never thought I'd make it back."

She nodded and held his eyes. "Look at you. Hating everything about yourself, about who you are. Going through the motions, waiting for…for what?"

He hesitated and she turned away again. "At least you have teaching. You love that – you always have. I don't have anything like that."

"You have Jeremy," he quickly said.

Elena closed her eyes tightly to try to hold back the tears she started feel forming. She shook her head and turned back to face him. "No, I don't. I can't go to him, he won't come to me. He won't even answer when I call."

She watched him hesitate again, then continued. "I understand. I know exactly what he feels like. There's nothing left here for him either."

Alaric looked a little sick. She knew he was looking for a way to help, a way to avoid doing what she was asking of him.

"We'll find a way to help, Elena. Stefan, or Caroline, or me…we'll find a way to help or we'll find someone who can help."

She bit her lip and shook her head. "I'm not going to make it that long, Rick. Caroline's too busy keeping me from killing people, and Stefan's given up. If you're still looking for help, you're the only one."

She was sitting again now, he was standing a little away, sick look still on his face, when she spoke again.

"I thought the herbs, the hallucinations of Damon would pull me through, but they made me someone I don't want to be."

"Drugs usually do…" Alaric started, but cut himself off when he saw her glare. She couldn't believe he could slip into lecture mode so easily.

"I used to worry that Damon was making me someone I didn't really want to be," Elena said after a brief pause, "but he wasn't. He just brought out who I really am. Some people didn't like it, but I never did things I thought should not be done. He helped me control myself and stay true to myself."

"You made him better, too," Alaric offered when she paused again.

She looked up at him for a second, then stood and shook her head. "But he's gone. I have nothing but this hole where he was, and when I try to fill it, I hurt people. I become someone I don't want to be. So, please do this for me."

Alaric wasn't ready to give up. "Matt's helping Jeremy, and your friends are helping you. You'll both find a reason to go on..."

"You mean another reason," she interrupted. "I'm always having to find another reason, and I'm tired of it. I've got nothing left anymore. I've got no one."

She knew her face was desperate as she faced him. What she didn't expect was the hard expression on his face in reaction to her words.

She could tell he was trying to control himself as he said, "'No one', she says to the face of the guy who helped her a dozen time, and who she is asking for help again!"

She lowered her head and dropped her eyes again. "I'm sorry. You know I appreciate what you've done for me…me and Jeremy." She raised her eyes and let the desperation show. "But Rick, I can't do this anymore. I can't live without Damon anymore. If I can't get him back to me, I am going to look for a way to go him."

His expression changed as she saw him understand what she meant. He shook his head as he said, "Elena, you don't really mean you would…"

She let him finish, but he didn't say the word. She didn't make him.

"You have got to help me forget him," she said quietly.

She watched as he nodded. This wasn't what she wanted, but she needed it. She hadn't been herself since Damon was gone, and she didn't want to see just how far she would go…

I hear things are different in TVD land now. I hear some have given up on the show, or that there is turmoil on set, or whatever. It's OK, nothing lasts forever, not even this. We all get to choose what we watch and do. Me, I do this…and I will continue to…

So, the game remains afoot. Play if you wish…