Summary: The Burden They Bare

Damon just bared his heart to Elena in her room after saving her from Elijah. His plan was to erase you memory from it…but what he didn't count on was the small hemp bracelet on her left wrist. Picks up after Damon leaves her room in a blur.

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Chapter 1: Emotions

Elena stood shocked, her mind not even able to form a thought after Damon's confession. She fingered the necklace he replaced on her neck before leaving and sighed deeply.

He tried to compel her. Usually she would be mad, but she just couldn't after hearing his reasons why. He was protecting his feelings and saving hers. She frowned and slowly lowered herself to the bed. He loved her…she knew that. But she never heard him say it and she'd never seen so much tenderness adorn his face. The way his lips softly caressed her forehead, and the acceptance in his voice as he claimed he didn't deserve her.

Elena covered her face with her hands. What was she going to do? He thought she didn't remember a thing, that she was oblivious to his feelings. She fingered the hemp bracelet that she weaved in with vervain for extra protection. She was glad she had it. She was glad she kept this memory of Damon letting down his walls…opening up his heart to her.

Elena glanced out the window to see the curtain blowing in the wind. How was she going to act around him? Was she going to confront him, tell him she knew everything and that they needed to talk…or pretend that she didn't remember and continue on as if nothing happened? Lying down in her bed, Elena thought back to what happened at the mansion. Her intention was to run to Damon…she wanted to, but Stefan stepped in and stole that moment from them. She had no idea why that bothered her, but when she locked eyes with him over Stefan's shoulder she could see the pain in his blue eyes.

Elena closed her eyes even though she knew sleep would not come tonight.

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Damon waltzed into the Boarding House and straight into the parlor for a drink. He blinked away another tear before breathing in deeply and hardening his face. As he strode to the wet bar his brother spoke up from the chair by the fire.

"Where were you?" Stefan's eyes followed his brother as he walked towards the fire.

Damon didn't move his eyes from the flames. "I didn't realize you were my keeper."

"I was just curious, you look a little pensive." Stefan commented.

Damon gave him a twisted smile. "I don't do pensive, that's your gig baby brother." He downed the rest of his scotch and moved to the bar for a refill.

Stefan stood and followed. "Did you go see Elena?" his voice was calm and quiet.

Damon paused, the glass to his lips. "I dropped off her necklace." The liquor burned going down. Much like the way her name burned into his heart.

Stefan scrutinized him. "That's all?"

Damon spun around pinning his brother with his glare. "Yea…what did you think I was gonna do, bare my heart and soul?" he added, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He scoffed and downed his drink again.

Stefan smiled tightly. "Maybe, I don't know Damon…you're unpredictable. She seems to be the only one that gets you to open up, sometimes it's like she knows more about you then I do." He shrugs and stuffs his hands in his sweater pockets.

Damon kept his mouth from saying what he was thinking. She knows more about me that I do. "Well you have nothing to worry about Stef…I haven't burdened your girl with the weight of my feelings." He turned back to the wet bar and fiddled with his glass. "She loves you…and I'm not gonna get in between that." He admitted softly pouring yet another drink. "You win…again." He downed it and chucked the glass in the fire, not even watching as it smashed into a million shards in the flames. He sped up to his room and slammed the door.

Stefan frowned as the fire grew with the alcohol from the glass. "We're gonna run out of glasses." He mumbled to himself.

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Bonnie walked up the steps to her house sluggishly. She was worn out and tired and wanted sleep…lots of it. What she wasn't expecting to see was Lucy sitting on her porch steps.

Bonnie stopped and stared her eyes wide.

"I told you, you'd be seeing me didn't I?" she drawled as she stood. "You need help Cuz…you're wearing yourself down." Lucy's brow frowned in worry.

Bonnie's eyebrows shot up. "How did you know?"

The older Bennett smiled. "I can feel it Bonnie…you're power is my power. If you're weakened I feel it. I can help make you stronger…there's a way that allows you to do magic without draining yourself." She offered.

Bonnie was silent for a minute thinking it over before walking past her to open the door. "Come inside, Lucy…I'll make us some tea." Bonnie smiled tightly and let her cousin inside.

As Bonnie moved around the kitchen, Lucy explained the rules of magic and knowing when to stop. "I know the limits…I hit it today and it knocked me unconscious." The younger witch butted in. "I just want to be able do magic and not worry if my brain is gonna start hemorrhaging."

Bonnie placed both cups of tea on the island and sat down across from Lucy on the stool. Lucy cupped her hands around the mug. "That's how it starts off…you have the power it's just your body that can't handle it. But that will change. It just takes some getting used to."

Bonnie shook her head and leaned in. "I don't have the time to get used to it Lucy. Everyday there's a new threat, and I need my magic to help in anyway I can. My friend almost died today." She whispered anxiously.

Lucy placed her hand over Bonnie's. "We can do this…you have the Grimoire right?"

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Katherine sat in the far corner of the tomb, with her knees hugged to her chest and dirt all over her body. She was starving. She was shaking and weakened but still clutched the moonstone in her cut up hands. Clawing at the walls didn't help and neither did anything else she did. She was stuck in here…left to decay and die alone. She closed her eyes as she thought of the cold look in Damon's eyes as he told her to rot in hell.

He didn't believe her…and now because of that Elena was probably dead. But she knew she was next…Katherine didn't know what was worse. Being hunted to her death, or starving to it. She blinked away a tear and buried her head in her knees.

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Okay guys I hope you liked the first chapter/Prologue. The chapters to come will be longer…I just wanted to start it off like this. This is my first Vampire Diaries fic, and I'm excited. I just finished watching 'Rose' and had to touch on what would happen if Elena wasn't really compelled. This IS a Delena fic, but I gotta work up to it to make it realistic. Please review and let me know what you think!

Vanessa