Here it is! The last chapter of "Inconsequential"

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE – Consequential

-A YEAR LATER-

Stefan hadn't been seen nor heard from since Katherine had been killed, but Damon assured Elena that he would know if something had happened to him. When Elena's high school graduation came, she wondered if Stefan would show, only to be surprised by the presence of Isobel. After she had saved Elena, Damon had warmed up to Isobel's sudden appearances. Isobel would be gone for weeks on end, but she always ended up in Mystic Falls to check on her.

Damon threw a party at the boarding house for Elena's graduation, inviting everyone in town that she liked. Elena had insisted it wasn't necessary, but he knew she would have done this herself if she weren't worried about his feelings towards certain people. Bonnie pulled Elena away from everyone during the party and handed her a ring. It was smaller than Damon's, and more feminine. Elena stared at Bonnie in surprise, but she only shrugged.

"You'll still be Elena," she told her.

Elena smiled and hugged her best friend.

"Thank you."

The party lasted well into the night, and after they were gone Damon sped down into the basement to get his hidden scotch. He put on some music and spun Elena around.

"Four more years," he whispered, kissing along her jaw.

Elena's breath caught in her chest and she swallowed, nodding.

"And one more graduation."

He stepped back so he could see her face.

"So you aren't going to go back to high school?"

"I'd be too old," she reminded.

"College, then?"

She shook her head, leaning back into him.

"I'm not really sure yet. We have forever, and you've gone back to school, haven't you?"

"I have. A century and a half with nothing to do but party got old along the way."

She smiled against him.

"I bet."

He leaned down to kiss her, briefly.

"But you'll have me."

She smiled and kissed him again.

"Yeah," she breathed, "I'll have you."

They kissed again; slowly at first but slowly more passion-fueled. Damon pulled her closer by his hand on her waist, holding the side of her face with her other hand. Elena pulled on his shirt only to have Damon remove it in half a second. He moved his lips to her neck, kissing along it as her fingers twined themselves through his dark locks. A growl escaped from him and Elena's shirt was pulled off over her head. He kissed her collarbone, lifting her up into his arms. Elena found her back against the couch the next moment, their kisses like a wildfire. Elena hitched her leg over his waist, pulling him down closer to her, but that only made him kiss her fiercer. Elena's fingers found the button on his slacks, but he suddenly pulled away from her. She frowned, wondering what was wrong, but Damon was already handing her back her shirt. She slipped it back on, pulling her hair out.

"Damon, what-?"

He put his finger to her lips to stop her, and then stood her behind the couch, moving to block her from the front door. The doors opened, and Elena's jaw hit the floor.

"Stefan?"

He looked—different. Even Elena could tell that he was still on human blood, but that wasn't what the distinction was. He was calmer, like he had more control over the hunger now.

But he didn't move closer to them, staying at a 'safe' distance from Elena the moment he saw the fury in his brother's eyes.

"I'm not going to hurt her, Damon."

This caused Damon to roll his eyes.

"Yeah, I know you aren't. I won't let you."

"Damon, I have—control over it now. You don't have to—"

"Don't have to what, Stefan? Worry that you'll sneak up on her or anyone else in this town in the middle of the night and feed off them?"

Stefan hesitated.

"You don't have to protect her anymore."

Elena sucked in her breath, waiting for Damon's reaction.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that I'm back and I can take care of her now."

Elena flinched as Damon slammed Stefan against the wall by his neck.

"Listen up and listen good, brother," he spat. "I love Elena, and I'm going to protect her even when she doesn't need my protection anymore."

"You can't turn-"

Damon silenced him by slamming his head against the wall. Elena flinched again, but stayed where she was.

"She wants it. She wants me. You can't just gain control and waltz back into her life after a year and think she's going to fall back into your arms, you hear me? Elena's mine."

Stefan looked over to Elena.

"You gonna let him treat you like property, Elena?"

"He knows I'm not property, but I am his, just like he's mine." She moved around the couch to stand closer to Damon. "I don't love you anymore, Stefan. I haven't loved you since you chose Katherine."

"That was a mistake."

Elena shook her head.

"I don't believe you. You still have her necklace."

Both of the brothers started- Stefan at how she knew that, and Damon at the truth of the situation. Stefan finally managed to push Damon off of him. Elena shifted herself to be at his side, wrapping her hand in his.

"I loved her."

"That doesn't matter."

A flint of anger appeared in Stefan's eyes, but the next moment, Damon was throwing him outside. Elena ran after them, but Damon yelled at her to stay in the house.

"Elena, the boarding house is yours. Do you accept it?"

She stared at him, but then realized what he was doing when he grabbed Stefan back from going in the house.

"Yes, I accept it."

Damon threw Stefan again and sped up to the door, lingering just outside the threshold.

"Come in, Damon."

He stepped over the threshold and they both turned to see Stefan staring at them.

"Elena—"

"You're not allowed in. Please, Stefan, just. . . go back to where you were. I know you just want Katherine, and I'm not her. I will never be her, not now and not when Damon changes me."

"Elena, please, don't turn."

"It's my choice. I'm sorry, Stefan."

Damon shut the doors, blocking out Stefan's shocked expression.

"Thank you," he mumbled.

"For what?"

"Choosing me."

Elena frowned.

"Damon, I love you. You loved me for me, not for Katherine, and you've always been honest with me."

He smiled lightly, kissing her.

"We're going to have to convince Bonnie to make you a ring, you know."

"No need."

His eyebrows creased together.

"I'm not letting you be stuck in the night, Elena. If you really want me to, I can go steal Katherine's back from Stefan, but-"

She shook her head, sticking her hand into her pocket and pulling out the ring.

"Bonnie gave it to me at the party. She said I'll always be Elena, so now I'll be safe."

Damon was shocked.

"Damn. Guess I'm gonna have to thank the witch."

"Damon, don't call her that."

"Fine, fine. I'll have to thank Bonnie."

She smiled.

"Yeah, you will. But not now."

She leaped up into his arms.

"Where were we?"

Damon grinned, and bit her.

I hope you liked it! I'm going to try and think up another story, a continuation of this one for you guys since you all didn't want it to end! It'll be a while, though; I have to get my hand to heal up. I shouldn't even have written this! ;-) Thanks for all the love and reviews!