"He's just being dramatic he's not going to starve himself,"

"Why would he say that?,"

"Cause he is trying to atone for things," Eliza spoke up as she leaned against the door frame.

"Eliza!,"

"Hey darling what are you doing here?,"

"Keeping a promise," she walked over sitting on the opposite couch across from Elena in front of where Damon stood.

"He just feels bad for hurting Amber,"

"She's right it's very typical Stefan martyr stuff it will pass,"

"Will it," Elena was skeptical of both Damon and Eliza.

"Cause he seemed to be in a lot of pain,"

"Well that will pass too once he eats, again," Eliza said knowing Elena didn't know that he had already ate once today which was a good start.

"I didn't mean physical pain,"

"I know what you meant,"

"Are you going to be ok here if I have to run out to go do a errand for the teacher,"

"The teacher?,"

"Aww you and Ric are friends,"

"Hush you," Damon slapped Eliza's shoulder as she teased him.

"Alaric? Are you two friends now?,"

"I don't make friends Elena,"

"Right except Eliza,"

"Technically ex fiance now friend," she corrected Elena.

"Should stay up here you shouldn't be down there by yourself,"

"I'll be fine,"

"I'll make sure she doesn't go alone Day,"

"Good girl," Damon smirked as he put on his jacket and winked at Eliza.

"You're very trusting of him given the circumstances,"

"So are you otherwise you wouldn't be leaving,"

"Your sister is a badass witch if she can't kick his ass we are all screwed," Damon pointed out as Eliza shrugged.

"Won't be long," Damon shook his head as he headed out.

"Trust me Elena Stefan will be fine he is just trying to atone this isn't the first time won't be the last,"

"Why are you doing this?,"

"Doing what?,"

"Pretending to be nice to me,"

"Elena I am only gonna say this once so listen closely. Yes I was pissed off at you for so long but there are forces at work and things that will happen and we all need to be united. So I am making amends with you we will never really be as close as we were but I would like to at least be friends,"

"Um wow, sure, yeah i would love to be friends again," Elena agreed leaning back happy to be making amends with her sister.

About an hour later Elena wanted to check on Stefan so Eliza agreed only after telling her she would be sitting on the stairs watching every move just in case, which surprising she agreed to.

Stefan meanwhile was in another memory.

It was the night after they were killed he approached the Salvatore mansion.

"May I offer you a drink Mr Gilbert?,"

"Thank you Mr Salvatore,"

"This won't take much longer I want to make sure the founder's records are accurate,"

"Make sure you document the loss of civilian life in the church and leading up to it,"

"They were hardly civilians Mr Salvatore,"

"As far as anyone needs to know they were, as the record keeper for the council what you write will be passed down through the generations, certain details should only be kept between you and me,"

"For example?,"

"My sons, they will be remembered as the innocent victims of the battle of Willow Creek, as well as Elizabeth Mackenzie, not for their shame,"

"Certainly Mr Salvatore," with that they each took a drink of their alcohol.

Eliza face palmed as she heard Stefan get angry at Elena and yell at her to get out. She knew he wouldn't hurt her despite how stupid she was for going in the cell.

Eliza stayed on the stairs but thankfully could hear them finally talking to each other.

"Talk to me Stefan why are you doing this?,"

"I am making the decision I should have made many years ago,"

"What are you talking about?,"

"You have to feed in order to complete the transition,"

"I know that,"

"It's a choice I shouldn't have made," Stefan looked down going back into his memories.

Mr Salvatore looked up from his writing desk sensing someone near by, startled by who he saw he stood abruptly.

"Dear god,"

"Even in our death you only feel strain,"

"You're one of them now,"

"No father i came to say goodbye,'

"I watched you die,"

"You were there when we were shot?,"

"I pulled the trigger myself,"

"You killed your own sons?,"

"You were both dead to me the moment you sided with the vampires. I only thank god your mother isn't alive to see the disgrace you have,"

"I haven't turned yet I don't want to I am going to let myself die father please," as he pleaded his father took one of the parlor sticks from beside the fireplace and broke it over his knee.

Turning to Stefan he tried to stake him only for Stefan to toss him away into the wall impaling himself with the stick.

"Oh god father, father let me,"

"No get away from me,"

"No let me help you please," Stefan pulled the stick from his father's body and stared at the blood as it tempted him.

Dropping the stick he looked at his bloody hands before lifting his fingers to his lips. After that first taste of blood he was hooked. Shoving his father's hand away from the wound he took more of his blood onto his hand as he father looked away in disgust.

As he licked the blood from his hands so began the transformation. His eyes turned black, the veins more prominent beneath them, and his teeth elongating into fangs.

Back in present time Stefan turned to Elena after explaining how he was turned.

"How can you even look at me right now,"

"We need to be able to talk about these things Stefan, I need to hear them. Come upstairs, Eliza is right outside on the stairs you won't be alone. We can all talk about this more and we can keep talking as long as you need,"

"You're so sure I'm ready," Elena nodded before pulling his daylight ring out of her pocket.

"When you feel the same way we'll be upstairs," placing his ring on the cot between them Elena stands and makes her way out.

Together she and Eliza head upstairs with Eliza placing a comforting hand on Elena's back knowing in her heart Stefan would make the right choice.

Eliza chose to go up to Damon's bedroom and began looking around smiling when she saw the photo of him and her from 1864 sitting on his dresser.

Elena had chosen to stay downstairs writing in her notebook.

"Ugh god you're still here?," Damon snarked as he arrived home.

Eliza upon hearing his voice came back downstairs being pulled into a hug as he saw her.

"Were you expecting anything else?,"

"Nope,"

"So how was the errand?," she asked as he plopped down in the chair pulling Eliza down onto his lap.

"Futile, although I think i witnessed the teacher having a crisis. Stefan eat yet?,"

"I thought you didn't care?,"

"He is just playing macho Stefan is family we may fight but we love each other in the end," Eliza explained slapping Damon for his dumb remark.

"Chalk it up to morbid curiosity,"

"I think he's getting there, but he's got a lot of guilt he has to deal with. It doesn't help that you spent the last 145 years punishing him for Katherine getting caught,"

"So this is my fault now?,"

"No, it's no ones fault Damon. I'm just saying you're not exactly innocent. You've made it your life's mission to make him miserable,"

"Let me ask you a question," Damon grew angry as he stood plopping Eliza in the chair alone.

"In all this important soul searching and the cleansing of the demons of Stefan's past did you ever manage to get the rest of the story?,"

"He said there was more," at this Eliza rolled her eyes folding her legs in the chair to avoid this one.

"Yeah that's a understatement," Damon said starting to leave the room.

"Damon, Damon tell me," Elena said tossing her book on the couch and running over grabbing his arm.

"That night Stefan came back to the quarry, but not alone, he brought with him a young woman to entice me to feed," he said thinking back.

1864

"What are you doing? Who is that?,"

"I brought her for you, she's a gift. Have a seat please," Stefan gestured to the young lady.

"What have you done Stefan?,"

"Damon I've been to see father, he came at me, I didn't know my own strength there was blood everywhere. He was dying and the blood was too strong. I needed it I had to have it,"

"You fed, you chose to live instead of joining me, Katherine and likely Elizabeth in the afterlife?,"

"Yes and it's incredible. My body is exploding with power Damon. I can hear things from far away, I can see through the darkness, and I can move like it's magic. And the guilt, the guilt, and the pain I can turn it off like a switch. Katherine was right it's like a whole another world out there,"

"Katherine is dead Stefan. There's no world without her," Damon struggled to his feet before pushing past Stefan.

"You can turn that off too, you don't have to feel that pain anymore," Stefan tried to force Damon to see what he saw by grasping his face in his hands.

"I don't want it,"

"You're weak, you'll be dead soon you need this. You'll die," Stefan wrapped his hands around Damon's neck trying to make him focus.

"No I can't," turning from Damon Stefan gestured the girl to stand as he changed and leaned in biting her to entice him.

"I won't let you die,"

"No, I can't,"

"Don't fight it we can do this together," finally getting him to give in he leads his brother closer and as he leans in he smiles as Damon begins to drink.

Damon on the other hand was filled with guilt he began remembering his engagement to Elizabeth. All those times he turned from her to Katherine watching her heart break in her eyes, and worst of all being compelled to watch as Katherine threw Elizabeth's body in the same quarry they now stood in front of.

Present

"From the moment Stefan had his first taste of human blood he was a different person,"

"Are you telling me I'm laying at the bottom of the quarry and you only now tell me," Eliza grew angry finding out Damon knew where her body was.

Looking down ashamed he watched Eliza stand and storm out knowing the quarry was now going to be ripped apart to at least put her bones to rest.

"Suppose I should thank him it's been a hell of a ride. Reunited with Elizabeth, finding out Katherine's alive and doesn't give a shit, and dealing with originals,"

"Oh my god he said he wanted to die that's why he won't feed now I understand why,"

"His choice," Damon said pouring himself a second drink.

"If he's stupid enough to make it so be it,"

"Don't do that ok don't pretend like you don't care," Elena stormed off to check on Stefan again.

"Where you going?," he said tossing back a glass of bourbon.