Spoiler Warning: Minor spoilers for Season 3 contained in this chapter.

Chapter 12 – Epilogue

"There you go," Bonnie stated simply.

"That's it?" Elena asked surprised.

"Yep," Bonnie answered.

Bonnie, Jeremy and Elena all turned to look at the vampire who was waiting impatiently outside.

"Well give it a go mate," Jeremy instructed.

Damon gave him a warning glare for giving him an order, but humoured him by trying to walk through the doorway of the Gilbert household, only to come across an invisible barrier.

Jeremy smiled at the image of Damon walking into an invisible wall.

"It worked," Elena stated.

"Why sound so surprised Elena? You know what I'm capable of now," Bonnie said offended.

"I'm sorry Bonnie, it's just that I haven't quite got my head around the magic stuff yet. Vampires I can handle, but magic is still a bit of a mystery to me."

"Is someone going to invite me in already?" Damon said impatiently. "I'm not getting any younger."

"You're not getting any older either! What's the rush, you're going to live for an eternity?" Jeremy asked.

"Yes, but I'm not about to spend that eternity standing out here now am I? Invite me in."

Jeremy and Bonnie looked to Elena, neither of them were about to do it.

Elena just shook her head at both of them; Damon had a long way to go before the others started to trust him. "Damon, I invite you in," she said without hesitation.

Damon smirked at Jeremy and Bonnie, and successfully took a step inside the house.

"Why thank you Elena," Damon stated smugly.

Damon's phone then rang and he pulled it out of his pocket. He looked at the display and let out a groan, 'Vampire Barbie.'

"I'll just take this outside," he stated and walked back out onto the porch.

As he walked outside he could hear Jeremy say behind him, "Look at that, you invite him in and he immediately goes back out anyway."

Damon ignored Jeremy and answered the call, "What is it Blondie?"

"Damon where have you been, I've been trying to reach you? I have a crisis on my hands."

"Well, I've had my own problems you know, like Klaus coercing Stefan and trying to avoid being killed. What's your crisis and how does it involve me? Did wolf boy break another leash? Because if he did keep him away from me, you know what they say, 'Once bitten, twice as… pissed off.'"

"What?" Caroline asked confused. "No, I'm trying to organise Elena's eighteenth B'day festivities which are going to be awesome. The only thing is, it's a surprise, so we can't have it at hers and I need a big, free space to hold it in, so I've decided to have it at the boarding house. Is that okay with you?"

"Well, I…"

"Great, I'll be around in a bit to measure up for decorations."

"Decorations? You know Caroline, with everything that has happened maybe this isn't such a good idea."

"You're kidding right? That's exactly why we need to do this, Elena deserves some good times."

Damon considered her words for a minute and couldn't help but agree with her.

"Fine, okay. I'll see you later."

"Great, bye." She quickly hung up, not giving him a chance to change his mind.

Damon stared at his phone, what had he just agreed to?

Elena emerged from the house and approached him, noticing his worried expression, "Damon, what's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing to worry about. Look I better get going," he shuddered at the thought, no doubt talk of streamers and balloons awaited him when he reached the boarding house; he was going to be so out of his depth, he would rather face Klaus again. But ultimately it was for Elena, so he would endure it. Looking back at her he asked, "Are you going to be alright here?"

"I'll be fine, I've got Bonnie and Jer. Plus there's a fresh new vampire seal over the house."

He nodded, "Just be careful who you invite in." Then there was a moment of awkward silence between them, both of them lost in their own thoughts about Stefan.

"I don't want to give up on him," Elena stated.

"Neither do I, but we have to carry on as normal as possible, for our own sanity. You know, when life gives you lemons… yadda, yadda, yadda."

"What does that mean exactly?" She asked.

"It means that you need to make the best of a bad situation, that you have to take what life has dealt you and use it the best you can. I don't know if Stefan will ever go back to being his normal self, he's done it before, but it's taken years. You need to prepare yourself for the possibility it may not be in your life time."

"So I should act as if nothing's happened, just let my life roll by?"

"You don't have a choice," he slowly walked closer to her until he stood directly in front of her, "but you're not alone in all this Elena. Know that for certain." He then unexpectedly pulled her into a hug and she let him, needing the comfort. They stood that way for a few minutes, until Damon reluctantly released her, kissing her on the top of her head as he did. "I'll see you," he turned and began to walk to his car.

Damon got halfway down the path, when she called his name, "Damon?" Her voice held an edge of panic.

He turned back to face her, "Yeah?"

"You won't leave will you? Mystic Falls I mean."

"Don't worry, I'll never be far away, if you need me just call and I'll be at you side in a heartbeat. I'll be around as long as you need me," he paused and then spoke to her quietly, "I love you remember."

With uncertainty, she tried to reply, "Damon, I…"

"Goodnight Elena," he cut her off from saying anything else. She would make a decision in her own time, he had promised he wouldn't pressurise her.

"Goodnight Damon," her worried look turned into a smile.

Damon returned the smile, and with a friendly wave he turned and walked away.

Elena remained on the porch watching him get into his car and disappear down the road into the dark night.

Elena crossed her arms to shield herself from the evening chill and looked up into the clear night sky to watch the stars overhead. What the future held, she didn't know, but she knew one thing for sure - tomorrow was another day.

Author's Note: Well that's the end of my fiction. My intention was to write the gap between Seasons 2 and 3; and to finish it before Season 3 started. I know my ideas obviously won't play out on screen, but I had fun writing it and it kept me busy over the summer. I hope you enjoyed reading it and if you got this far thank you for sticking with me. If you did enjoy it please leave a review, I would love to hear what you think. :0)