AN: Hi everyone! This is the last chapter, so thank you to everyone who's read this story, I hope you liked it :)
Also, thank you Mona and VampGirl4ever for reading and reviewing every single chapter, you're both amazing!
And last but not least, my awesome beta Danielle Salvatore who reads at the speed of light.

Disclaimer: I still don't own anything, everything belongs to Stephenie Meyer and LJ Smith.

Elena POV

Elena was having feverish nightmares, she wanted to move or wake up, but she couldn't. She had no control over her body, and could only watch the images as they flashed inside her head. There was nothing she recognized, no Stefan, no Bonnie, no Meredith. Damon had been in her nightmares first, she saw him holding her head between his hands, over and over again. She heard a sickening snap as he quickly twisted her neck, time after time. Her brain had made this up, she hadn't felt or heard a thing when he did that. But that didn't make it any easier to see. Carmen had been in them to, her face wet with tears, though Elena had never seen her cry before, she wondered if Carmen even could cry. Those were the only faces in her dreams. She ached to see Stefan, but her mind wouldn't let her hold on to his face. He was always just out of reach.

Now only colours were dancing in front of her eyes, quick flashes of red and orange, making her think of fire. It was exhausting.

When the nightmares ended, she longed for them. Because the nothingness was worse. Blackness pressed on her eyes, numbing her mind. It was worse because just when the dreams had stopped, just when she could finally think clear and picture Stefan in her head, her thoughts began to slip away. She started to panic, was she really dying now? Had something gone wrong? She could barely think as she struggled to hold on to his image. Numbness settled over her like a veil and she fought it, trying to stay aware, but it had no effect. Her mind clouded and she let go.

She felt nothing.

Stefan POV

Bonnie quietly opened the door, Meredith followed in after her.

"No change?" She whispered.

"None." Stefan answered. He hadn't left the bed, but was now leaning against the headboard, one arm around Elena, who was lying on top of him.

Bonnie sat down on a quilt she and Meredith had spread out on the ground. Meredith walked over to the bed and held Elena's hand in both of hers. She just stood there, closing her eyes and sighing, before she let go of it. It limply fell down on the bed.

That was the worst part, Stefan thought, Elena didn't look as if she were asleep. If she'd been asleep, she respond to his touch, maybe even clutch his shirt. She was motionless, not even breathing.

It was getting late and outside the colours were turning to dark-blue. Bonnie and Meredith had been waiting in Stefan's room for hours and they'd gone home to eat, but they wouldn't stay away any longer than necessary and were back now. Damon stopped by regularly in case Elena woke up and they needed his help. Stefan didn't understand, he'd thought Damon would be long gone from the moment he'd done his part.

"I brought the things I need to lift the spell, the mind-link." Bonnie said. She zipped her backpack open and took the things she needed. A candle, a cup and a bottle of water.

She poured some water into the cup and placed the candle in it.

"Where's Damon?" She asked, her eyes glancing around the room. "Everyone needs to be here to lift the spell."

"I'm sure he'll be here any moment." Stefan said. He'd noticed that Damon always showed up when Bonnie arrived somewhere. He didn't give it much thought, Damon would leave town soon, and he'd move on to make another girl blush.

Damon? I need you to come to the boarding house so I can lift the spell. Bonnie called.

Not a minute later, a crow perched on the windowsill and turned into Damon.

"We need to form a circle around the cup, but with Elena being… you know." Bonnie waved her hand in the direction of the bed. "I'll just move the cup to the bed and we'll do the best we can."

Stefan sat up a bit straighter and Meredith moved to the left side of the bed. Damon stood on its right side and Bonnie was facing Stefan. She lit the candle and closed her eyes.

"Do we need to do anything?" Meredith asked, and Bonnie shook her head. Stefan saw Bonnie's forehead wrinkle as suddenly the candle's flame flickered wildly. The flame grew higher and Stefan could hear a soft humming sound inside his head. Then the flame went out and the humming stopped.

"Done." Bonnie said, her voice shook.

Stefan realized that it may not have looked very impressive, but lifting the spell hadn't been easy for Bonnie.

"Thank you, Bonnie. Getting Elena out of that house wouldn't have been possible without you." He said.

Bonnie blushed. She put her things back in the backpack and sat down again on the quilt. Meredith joined her there and shot a few suspicious looks at Damon.

Stefan turned his attention back on Elena. She hadn't changed much. She was paler, she was colder to the touch and her face seemed slightly sharper, but he didn't think that a human would notice that. He ran his hand through her hair, stroked her face with his fingertips, waiting for a reaction.

Damon was just making his way to the window when it happened. It wasn't much, just a twitch of her finger, but it made Stefan gasp and Damon halt his movements.

"What? What is it?" Meredith asked.

"Is she waking up?" Bonnie stood up to see better. Both she and Meredith knew that it could be dangerous if they were too close.

Stefan didn't answer. He took the hand that had moved and called Elena's name. He felt the fingers he held move again.

Then Elena's head shot up and she gasped for air. Her eyes were wide and panicking. She grabbed his shirt and called his name between sucking in breaths. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly to his chest. "I'm here, Elena, you're okay." He said.

She didn't seem to hear him, he felt her tremble in his arms and her eyes flitted wildly around the room. He held her head between his hands, forcing her to look at him.

"Shh. It's okay. Shh." He said softly.

Her chest was still heaving and her breathing came in ragged gasps, but she was calming down. No one moved. Bonnie was looking at Elena with big eyes, Meredith was leaning forward, wanting to help but staying back, and Damon had his eyebrows raised, looking startled. They all waited for Elena to catch her breath.

"How do you feel?" Stefan asked after a few moments.

"I don't know. Different. My neck aches." She said, bringing one hand up to her neck.

"That's normal, it's still healing." Stefan said, "Do you remember what happened?"

He wanted to be sure that Elena was thinking clearly, that she wouldn't do something dangerous.

"I think so," she hesitated. "I remember Damon being in the bedroom. How long ago was that?"

"You slept through the day and half of the night. Damon brought you here this morning and it's almost midnight now." Stefan said.

Elena looked around the room. "You're here?" She said, seeing Bonnie and Meredith.

"We wouldn't leave you, Elena. We've been so worried!" Bonnie said.

"So, who are you going to drink?" Damon said, motioning at Elena's friends.

Elena anxiously shook her head.

"Oh, come on! Don't tell me you didn't talk about this!" Damon rolled his eyes. "Unless you're just going to feed on someone you don't know."

"He's right, I should've thought about this." Elena said, chocking on the words.

She looked so fragile in his arms, Stefan thought. Instead of strong and dangerous, she looked afraid and small, still clutching his shirt.

"There wasn't much time to think. You needed to get away from that house." He said, stroking her cheek. "I won't let you hurt anyone."

"Well, she'll have to feed somehow. Otherwise all of this was for nothing."

"What are you all talking about?" Bonnie exclaimed.

Stefan realized that they didn't know about the turning process.

"Elena isn't fully turned yet," He told them, "She has to drink human blood."

"And Damon thinks…" Meredith's voice trailed off.

"That one of you should volunteer. Or Elena has to go out and bite a stranger, like I care." Damon shrugged.

It was quiet. Stefan didn't look at Bonnie or Meredith, he thought they should choose for themselves. Elena looked down at the sheets.

"You don't have to. I'll figure something out." She said, and Stefan knew that she really meant it.

"No." Meredith straightened up and squared her shoulders. "You can't feed on a stranger. I know what could happen if you did."

Elena was at a loss of words, she buried her face in Stefan's shirt. He knew that she was trying to resist, Meredith's blood was calling to her and the offer was tempting. She would have to feed soon.

Meredith looked confident, but Stefan could see a trace of fear behind her eyes. She walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge.

"No, Meredith, please. I don't want to." Elena groaned, she had her nose pressed against Stefan's chest and her eyes shut.

"You're really okay with this?" Stefan asked Meredith. She nodded.

"It's not a bad idea, Elena. I'll keep Meredith safe, you know I wouldn't let anything happen to her."

"I know, but…" She sighed.

"Look, Elena, I want to help. Bonnie made the mind-link, Damon turned you and Stefan held you all day. I'm the only one who didn't do anything. Please let me do this, it would make me feel better." Meredith said.

Stefan realized that she was trying to make Elena feel guilty, and it seemed to be working. Elena was slowly turning her head to look at Meredith. Her eyes focused on Meredith's neck and Stefan could see her upper lip change slightly. He knew what was happening, and Elena did, too. She raised her hand to touch her mouth and her eyes widened.

Stefan saw her eyes become darker and veins running underneath them. Meredith's mouth opened slightly in shock, but she recovered quickly and scooted closer.

"Elena, I can see that you're struggling. I know you won't hurt me." She said, and she held her long dark hair out of the way.

Stefan saw Elena's expression change, she wasn't resisting anymore, but she still looked confused. He remembered that, not knowing what to do the first time. He released his grip on her slightly and guided her to the right spot. Before he let go of her, he look at Meredith. She looked scared, there was no doubt about it, but she swallowed and nodded.

"Try to relax, it only hurts if you resist." He told her.

He sat behind Elena and held her shoulders, he expected her to go for Meredith's neck, but she turned around and faced him instead. He didn't understand, every other vampire wouldn't be able to hold back, especially not freshly turned ones, but Elena did. She looked at him and he saw tears gather in her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh Stefan, I want it, I really do." Her voice caught.

"That's okay, you don't need to hold back now." He said, he didn't understand her reasoning.

"I can't! I can't bite her! What if I do it wrong and hurt you?" She said, looking at Meredith. "I'm scared." She added. Her eyes were still black and her canines extended, so he knew that she couldn't hold back much longer.

"If it's just the start that's the problem, then you do it, Stefan. I'm freaking out more every second and I just want it over with, okay? Just bite me and then let Elena have my blood."

Stefan felt sorry for Meredith and decided that she was right. He hesitated for one more moment and then looked at Damon.

"Hold Elena back, just in case."

He didn't think anything would happen, but maybe her control would snap as soon as she saw the blood on Meredith's neck. Damon's arms immediately encircled Elena's torso, pinning her arms to her sides.

Stefan held one hand to Meredith's back and gently angled her chin up with the other.

"I'm sorry, it will only hurt for a second." He said, then he felt his canines extend and brought them to her neck. He felt her jerk away when they touched her skin, she shouldn't do that, it would hurt, so he tightened his grip on her to hold her still. She understood what he meant and he felt her body relax a bit more. Carefully, he sank his teeth into her neck. She gasped and he quickly released her when he tasted her blood. He moved away and saw Damon move Elena forward. She didn't need more urging, she placed her lips around the small wounds on Meredith's neck and began to drink. Stefan lightly put his hands back on her shoulders, ready to pull her away. He looked at Meredith, her fists were clenched around the sheets, but she gave him a small smile to let him know she was okay.

After a few moments, he tugged on Elena's shoulders. She didn't need much, it was only to complete the change. They could hunt later to satiate her thirst. She didn't release Meredith right away and he pulled on her chin, careful not to hurt Meredith. Elena noticed him and quickly let go, she moved away from Meredith and tried to calm her breathing. Stefan glanced at his brother, Damon nodded and went to stand behind Elena, ready to restrain her if necessary.

Stefan turned his attention to Meredith.

"Are you alright?"

"I think so, she didn't really hurt me." Meredith's voice came out rather weak.

He turned her head to the side and examined her throat. There were only the two small wounds he'd made, Elena hadn't bitten her or torn her skin.

"Bonnie, do you have a tissue somewhere?" He asked, looking at her for the first time in a while. She was looking at the scene on the bed with wide eyes and her mouth slightly open. "I ah… yes, wait." She shook her head to clear it and grabbed her purse. Meredith took a tissue from her and pressed it against her neck.

"You can let me go now, Damon." Stefan heard Elena say from behind him. He turned around and saw Damon step back. Elena was in his arms within a second.

"Did I hurt Meredith?" She whispered, the thirst had disappeared from her eyes, concern taking it's place.

"No, you were very careful." Stefan said, and he kissed her gently.

Elena turned around in his arms and faced Meredith. "I'm sorry." She said.

Meredith shook her head and smiled. "It was my own choice. I'm glad I could help."

Elena POV

"Have I changed much?" Elena said suddenly.

Stefan shook his head. "You'll be able to go home. Just keep your distance at first."

Elena missed her little sister. She wanted to go back home and pretend like everything was normal. She wouldn't hurt her own family.

"I think we should go now." Bonnie said, and then she winked at Elena.

As much as she loved her friends, Elena was glad she would have some time to be alone with Stefan. She mouthed thank you at Bonnie and turned to look at Damon, but he'd already disappeared.

Bonnie hesitated, she was standing between the door and the bed, looking at Elena. Elena knew what she was thinking. She sighed.

"Come here, I missed you." She spread out her arms.

Bonnie didn't need to be told twice, she nearly jumped into Elena's arms and hugged her hard. Elena felt relieved. For just a moment, she'd thought that Bonnie wouldn't want to hug her.

"I missed you, too. So much. And I don't care about how much you changed, now I'm not the only one who's weird." Bonnie grinned.

She didn't look scared at all and Elena even had to slip out of her embrace when she felt the changes in her face begin.

"It does look creepy, though." Bonnie grimaced.

Elena thanked Meredith again, who was looking much better now. Meredith only shook her head and squeezed Elena's hand. Then her friends left and the room was quiet.

Elena was still looking at the door, and she felt Stefan's gaze on her. She wondered what he really thought about all this, and she was afraid to ask. Of course he had been there fore her when she woke up, and made sure she didn't hurt Meredith, but they only knew each other for a short time. He'd been alright with turning her, but he hadn't had much of a choice. She was in his arms in less than a second, his mouth pressing down on hers. He moved his lips to her ear. "Don't ever think such things." He whispered.

She was surprised, but he distracted her by kissing her neck and collarbone. And he was right, she shouldn't think about that. She put all of her worries aside and focused only on Stefan's touch. His one hand held her close while the other stroked her hair, and he kissed her softly. She linked her fingers in his hair and smiled against his lips. Eternity would be just fine, as long as she had Stefan to spend it with.

AN: I hope you enjoyed reading my story as much as I loved writing it. If you want to know what Damon wants from Bonnie and what happens between them, be sure to check out my new oneshot 'A Promise To Keep', it takes place the day after this story. Everyone who never reviewed before, this is your chance! I'd love to hear your thoughts about this last chapter or the story as a whole. Please?

Thanks!

Ine