A/N: I am sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. My little one has been sick leaving little time to write. Thank you to all those that reviewed, favorited and alerted this story. I tried to respond to all of the reviews and I'm sorry if I may have missed a couple along the way. I appreciate all of the feedback. It encouraged me to keep the story going. This is the final chapter. It was an angst filled journey, but I hope you enjoyed it. Happy Reading!
Chapter 21
Rolling over all I can smell is Elena. I think I could get used to waking up surrounded by that smell every day. Reaching out I only feel cold sheets. Panicked I bolt up in bed. This is it, I have gone totally insane. I dreamt of having my way with Elena, multiple times, dreamt she said the words I waited so long to hear. My subconscious is a cruel bitch. I pull the pillow over my head. Fuck it really does smell like her. As I lay in bed a voice drifts from the bathroom and I tune my hearing into the conversation.
"Have you heard anything from Bonnie?" Elena asks.
"Not a peep." Caroline responds. Shit, she's just on the phone with blondie. The past twenty-four hours really happened.
"I can't get in touch with her or Jeremy" Elena groans in exasperation.
"Alaric called last night. I can't believe Damon is alive. Is he okay? Are you okay?" Caroline asks quickly.
"We're fine." I know that fine. I blur to the bathroom door and quietly open it. Elena is standing with her back to me, her hip resting against the counter. Damn, she is wearing my shirt and I think I never want to see her in anything else. I watch and I can tell by her body language that she is far from 'fine.'
"How's Tyler?" Elena asks gingerly.
"I've been with him since after we thought Damon died. He seems okay, but he is scared to see you. He is really scared to see Stefan and Damon." That dick better be scared. I can't vouch for my actions.
"It wasn't his fault. I want o see him and talk to him." Elena shifts her weight from foot to foot. I already miss feeling her; miss feeling her emotions even the not so pleasant ones.
"He'll be at the part tonight. Please tell me you're going. Mrs. Lockwood has asked me a million times if you and Jeremy are going to be there for the dedication tonight."
"Yes, I'll be there. But technically I did die so I should get to skip it." Elena chuckles.
"Ha, hah, very funny Elena. I'll see you there. Bye" Caroline hangs up. Elena sighs and sets the phone on the counter. Before she can move I have her pinned to the wall and she lets out a small yelp of surprise.
"Someone left me alone in bed" I smirk at her.
Elena sighs a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "I was planning on coming back. I've been trying to track down Bonnie for some answers."
"No word from her?" I rest my forehead against Elena's.
"No." Elena's voice is tight. "I should go. I need time to get ready and get to the Lockwood's."
"Nope" I pop the p. "Not ready for the real world yet." If we go out until the real world then one of us still might not make it, one of us might have to face the repercussions of us both walking and talking.
"I'm scared Damon." Elena plays with the hairs on the back of my neck and I have to close my eyes at how right it feels to have her touch me.
"This isn't what I wanted for you. I wanted you to finally have a life free from fear. A life where you would be safe and happy and have a choice if you wanted the whole white picket fence, soccer mom life. I didn't want you to be waiting for the other shoe to drop." I step back and lean against the bathroom counter arms crossed.
Elena crosses to me and caresses my face. "Even though I'm scared, I know we'll survive Damon. We have proven, against all odds, we always survive." She leans up and gives me a gentle kiss. I will never get used to the feel of her lips against mine.
"Now I really should get home. Alaric and Stefan will be back soon." Elena starts to walk away.
I grab Elena around the waist and pull her back against me so her back is tight against my chest. "Oh, no, no, no. I seem to recall someone having a little shower fantasy and there happens to be a very nice, very large shower directly behind us."
I can hear her breath hitch and her heart rate speed up. "How….did….you" Elena stutters.
"You have a wonderful mind Miss Gilbert." I start kissing her neck walking backwards to the shower pulling her with me.
"I thought you only saw memories and fears."
"I may have skipped that little detail." I reach in and turn the shower on.
"Damon" Elena admonishes.
"I didn't think it up. I just witnessed it, but I am not ashamed to use it to my advantage" I whisper against her neck ripping open her shirt and buttons ricochet around the bathroom.
"You know this is your shirt" Elena says breathlessly.
"I'll buy more." I pull her into the shower letting the warm water wash over us as I just hold her and she leans back against me.
The shirt is now soaked and stuck to her body. I need to feel her skin and I pull the shirt off of her relishing the feel of her smooth skin. As I kiss along her neck and shoulders the smell of blood hits my senses. I see that Elena's wrist is bleeding.
"Elena, you need to drink, heal you're wrist." I put my forehead against her shoulder. All I can think of is the taste of her blood from the other night and I am fighting to maintain control.
"Only if you return the favor." Elena snakes her hand through my hair pull me closer. Shit, she is fulfilling two fantasies in one for both herself and me. Maybe I did die after all and I actually made it to heaven.
"Put your hands on the tile." Elena quickly complies. This was hot to witness but so much better to actually experience it. As I enter her the sense of completion overwhelms me as it did each time we have been together the past day.
I resume kissing along her shoulders and neck paying extra attention to her pulse point. My fangs descend and I bite into my wrist moving it in front of her. "Drink." I feel Elena gently wrap her lips around the wound and I feel her draw the blood. I am lost in the sensation. Two other times I have given her my blood, but it was out of hate or desperation. This time is out of love and connection. I gently bite into her neck and the taste of her blood is even sweeter and more intoxicating then the last time I drank from her. This could be a dangerous addiction. The act of drinking from each other sends both of us over the edge simultaneously. Both of us are left panting and whispering 'I love you.' We just stay in each other arms until the water runs cold trying to hold the real world at bay.
Back in my room I sit on the bed watching Elena scurry around the room putting on clothes. "I like it much better when we do this in reverse."
"Damon, we can't stay in this room forever. Mrs. Lockwood may be the next one to try and hunt us down if we don't go tonight." Elena glares at me hands on her hips.
"Go, get, make yourself even more beautiful. I fully approve of you wearing something slutty." I wiggle my eyebrows at her.
"I'll see you later Damon" Elena says in exasperation. When she reaches the door she turns around and gives me a shy smile. "I love you."
I blur over next to her. "I love you." Elena turns back around and walks out the door.
With Elena gone I set out to Bonnie's. Not having any answers is killing me and I know Elena is on edge as well. After searching for a few hours I come up empty and return to the Boarding House. Downing a few drinks I reluctantly get ready putting on an Armani suit and tie. Stefan's porsche is in the driveway and he is nowhere to be found so baby bro is providing transportation for the evening.
Immediately upon arriving at the Lockwood's I head straight for the bar. No surprise I find Alaric there, drink in hand, loosening his tie looking extremely uncomfortable.
"Look at you all cleaned up there Ricky." I motion to the bartender for a drink.
"I still can't believe you're alive. " Alaric just stares at me jaw slightly agape.
"Ah, Ric, I knew you were secretly in love with me. " I quirk an eyebrow at him.
"And reality sets in, you're still a dick." Alaric just shakes his head sipping his drink.
I start looking around the room when I see Elena walk in and all thoughts escape me. She is dressed in a blue dress that is strapless and shows a little bit of cleavage and lots of leg. Our eyes lock for a moment and I have to fight to keep the smile off my face. A smile pulls at the corner of her lips and the moment is broken as Carol Lockwood steps over to greet her.
"Ugh. I am the worst guardian….ever." Alaric downs the rest of his drink and motions for another. "You're making googly eyes at each other. I knew I shouldn't have left the two of you alone."
"Sshh…." I look around to make sure no one over heard. I am not ready to be outed yet and I don't think Elena is either. I may still kick-it and I would prefer for my last moments not be writhing in pain from one of Bonnie's witchy migraines. I turn back to Alaric leaning in closer. "Is this where you get all paternal and lecture me if I ever hurt her, I'm dead."
"I do you owe you a death so that speech sounds about right. You've killed me twice and I've only killed you once."
"Touché" I raise my glass in a toast and we clink glasses.
"How did operation dispose of Satan Klaus go?" I inquire.
"Extremely satisfying." I nod in acknowledgement. Burying dismembered body parts. Good times.
"Where did the originals disappear to?" I swirl the bourbon around my glass waiting on Alaric's answer.
"They were going after hybrids." Alaric says. "They promised to leave Tyler alone." Alaric motions with his head and I see Elena speaking with Tyler on the other side of the room. My whole body tenses at the sight. Elena briefly looks up and smiles at me and I calm almost immediately. What the girl does to me. Elena gives Tyler a brief hug as Carol Lockwood approaches them.
Alaric and I remain at the bar while we watch Jeremy and Elena fulfill their founding family duties. Wickory Bridge is fixed, blah, blah, blah. I can't believe Carol even asked them to do this seeing as their parents died on that bridge. During the ceremony I continually scan the crowd for Bonnie. Once released from her obligations, Elena heads our way and Caroline comes up next me to as I watch Elena approach.
"Welcome back to the land of the undead" Caroline quips.
"Did someone miss me" I wiggle my eyebrows at her.
"Hey Caroline, have you seen Bonnie yet?" Elena asks giving Caroline a hug.
Caroline stares at Elena for a second then looks at me. "You had sex. The two of you." Caroline giggles clapping her hands.
Elena's eyes grow wide and her mouth drops open. "A gentleman doesn't discuss such things in public" I glare at her.
"Score one for team Bad Boy" Caroline wiggles her eyebrows at me. Maybe I am a little glad I didn't stake Caroline when she first turned.
"Let's go find Bonnie" Elena gives me an apologetic look and drags Caroline off into the crowd.
Stefan comes up next to me. "Brother" Stefan leans against the bar.
"Brother" I eye him suspiciously. He seemed to give us his blessing the other night, but I am still worried me being with Elena could push him over the edge.
"I'm happy for you Damon. You won the girl and as much I tried to convince myself you didn't deserve her, you do. You changed for her. You remind me of who you were when we were human."
"I'm still a dick." I motion to the bartender for him to bring drinks for both of us.
"You were a dick when you were human, but you were always a good brother. You've done a lot for me that I never acknowledged Damon. Despite all the pain we caused each other, you were always my brother and I'm sorry I didn't see that." Stefan stares at the bar top.
The bartender sets two glasses of bourbon in front of me and I slide one over to Stefan. "Well, I have one final brotherly act to do. I know you and all your broodiness will try and leave to give me and Elena 'space', but you are staying put. Once and for all you will learn control and I will be there every step of the way. No more flip flopping from the bunny eater to ripper. You will learn to be a well adjusted vampire that lives off blood bags with a decent grip on his humanity."
I raise my glass up. "To living on the edge without falling off." Stefan smiles and we touch glasses each downing the amber liquor.
"Now let's find Sabrina so I can find out if I am going to go insane or kick-it for good since I'm walking and talking and not six feet under." I turn back to the crowd.
"She never got in touch with you?" Stefan asks in surprise.
"No" I answer annoyed.
"Bonnie called me earlier with some cryptic message asking for a ring with a lapis lazuli stone. She said she needed it for Elena." I look down and spin my daylight ring around my finger. Why would Bonnie need a ring for Elena?
I look up at Stefan with a confused look. "What the hell is Bonnie up to?"
Stefan shrugs. "I went to her house earlier, but she wasn't there. I left her mother's ring. It's the only thing we have with that stone."
I finally spot Bonnie talking to Jeremy. "There she is, go find Elena" I tell Stefan as I start making my way through the crowd to Bonnie. I come up behind Bonnie and lace my arm through hers and start steering out to the balcony Jeremy following close behind.
"Damon, what the hell" Bonnie tries to pull her arm way.
"Play nice and let's not cause a scene judgey. We need answers on why Elena and I are both still alive and you have been dodging us." I hiss at her.
"Bonnie" Elena exclaims and I step away with a sigh as Elena engulfs her friend in a hug. Elena will be much nicer than me in dealing with Bonnie. The little witch deserves some touch laugh after leaving us hanging all day. "I have been worried about you. Where have you been and why were you ignoring us?" Elena looks at Bonnie with a concerned expression.
"You scared the crap out of us." Caroline pulls her into a hug. Stefan and Alaric move to stand next to me with anxious looks on their faces. Damn witches, we are too dependent on them for answers.
"Start spilling. Now!" I order.
Bonnie gives me a glare and gives Elena an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, but I had to go get some things and get some answers before I could talk to you." Bonnie starts fidgeting. "Okay, do you want the good news or the bad news?"
"The good" Elena answers quickly as her eyes flit from Bonnie to me and back to Bonnie.
Bonnie takes a deep breath. "Neither of you are going to die and there won't be any side effects like with Jeremy." Bonnie shoots Jeremy a sympathetic smile.
"How is that possible? The spell was for the exchange of one life for another. We're both here. This will not make Mother Nature do a happy dance. She tends to get pissed off when you violate her rules." I cross my arms waiting for the rest of the story.
"Technically you didn't violate any rules. Damon truly did die during the spell which brought Elena back" Bonnie explains.
"Hello, Bonnie. Damon is still here in all his bad boy glory" Caroline looks at Bonnie as she pokes me in the shoulder to show I am real.
"Damon died, that stake through his heart really killed him. He was brought back by a supernatural force. Elena brought him back to life." Bonnie wrings her hands together. There is a lot more to this story.
"What?" Elena practically shouts then looks around to make sure no one heard and comes to investigate our little gathering on the balcony. "What?" She says much quieter.
"You're a doppelganger Elena. You're a supernatural being in your own right. You force fed Damon your blood after he died." All eyes dropped to Elena's wrist which she hides behind her back, but everyone noticed it was healed. Bonnie glares at me and Stefan before continuing. "It seems as if you're blood has curative properties for supernatural beings."
"So Elena brought Damon back to life?" Alaric asks with an incredulous tone.
"Yes" Bonnie responds simply.
Fuck me. I can only stare at her my mouth ajar. I tried to die to give her a chance at life and she slits her own wrist to bring me back to life. Our lives are twistedly romantic or just fucked up depending on your point of view. Elena looks at me and our eyes lock and I start to feel the connection that we had in the seconds before she plunged the dagger into her heart. The moment is broken by Stefan's voice.
"Where have you been? We have been trying to get answers all day." Stefan asks. That is the million dollar question little brother. Despite distracting ourselves with lots of sex, Elena and I were still sweating this out not knowing what would happen to either of us.
Bonnie starts wringing her hands again. "I went to see the witch that was helping Klaus."
"What?" Elena and Caroline say together. The two of them start arguing with Bonnie over top of one another. The shrill sounds start hurting my ears.
"Girls!" Alaric uses a firm tone. "We all know it was STUPID of Bonnie to go alone on her little visit, but let her tell us what happened."
I see Bonnie's eyes flicker briefly over to Jeremy before returning to Alaric. "She didn't go alone. Witchy took baby Gilbert on her little quest." I love being a tattle tale from time to time.
"Jeremy!" Elena walks over and swats him on the back of the head.
"Worse guardian ever" Alaric mutters.
"They're having sex too. Might want to have the birds and the bees conversation with Jeremy." I whisper in his ear.
"Asshole." Alaric takes is tie off fully and stuffs it in his pocket.
"Can we back to the discussion at hand?" Stefan sighs. "Bonnie, can you continue on what you were doing today….with Jeremy."
"The witch was a Bennett witch. I could feel the family connection when I was trying to break her spell. I had to have a discussion on what family means and what side the Bennett's are supposed to be on." Bonnie crossed her arms her body language displaying her anger at the wayward family member.
"Did you kick some Bennett ass?" Caroline gives Bonnie a smile.
"She will be loyal to the family from now on. I also learned some things from her. Klaus had, um, plans for Elena." Bonnie's face turns red.
"What kind of plans?" I ask slowly knowing I am not going to like the answer.
"He needed to have the Petrova line to continue. He had arranged human suitors for her to make sure the family line continued." Bonnie's face pales as she recounts what she learned from the witch.
"Gross" Caroline pipes up. I look over at Elena and she look a green at the thought.
"What's the bad news? You said before there was good news and bad news." Alaric runs his hands through his hair.
"When Elena was in her coma I was going through Isobel's old research and found a lot of research on doppelgangers that we hadn't been through before. Doppelgangers tend to follow a bloodline and are rare but not unheard of."
"Blah, blah, blah, we know all of this." I am losing my patience with this story.
"Anyway, doppelgangers have always been portrayed as harbingers of death and destruction. The legends are because of their blood being able to heal and like in Damon's case resurrect supernatural creatures which then go on to kill humans." Bonnie's gaze drop to the floor as she realizes the bombshell she just delivered.
"Damon and I have both had her blood after being injured and didn't heal any faster than we would have with blood from any other human." Stefan has a skeptical look on his face.
"I also bit her when I was sick after Tyler bit me. I still needed Klaus's blood to be healed." I can't believe that stupid jackass ending up savings my life. If Elena's blood really could cure, then it would have saved us the Stefan ripper fiasco.
"When Esther cursed Klaus she did so using Petrova blood. She tied the bloodline to Klaus and he basically had exclusive rights to the power of the doppelganger. So had she tried to give her blood to a dead vampire a month ago it wouldn't have worked. Now that Klaus is dead she is released from him." Bonnie starts pacing a bit.
"She's basically a free agent now for any supernatural being that is sick or dead. It will be a free for all for her." I am trying to tap down the anger as I know what this means for her. A lifetime of looking over her shoulder, on the run.
Bonnie stops and looks around at us tears rimming her eyes. "I'm sorry Elena."
"I knew some of it. You accidently dropped some of the doppelganger research off at the house when we looking into the dagger Elijah gave us." Elena shrugs staring at her feet.
"What if no one knows that Klaus is dead?" I ask. If we can perpetuate that Klaus is alive and need Elena then it will help keep her safe.
"That was Elijah's thought as well." Bonnie admits. Fuck she is having private conversations with the original broody bastard.
"That is why he is going after the hybrids" Alaric mumbles. "This can't be our only plan for Elena."
"Turns out Klaus was a bit obsessed with having a life with you." Bonnie reaches into her bag and pulls out a very small book and a ring box that I know very well. "I took my relatives grimoire to provide additional protection for Elena. My relative developed a spell to create an eternity ring that will work for a doppelganger." Bonnie starts to hand the box to Elena when I blur in between plucking the box from her hand.
"Thank you witchy-poo. I will take that thank you very much." No way Bonnie is handing over that ring to Elena. That is my job.
"Damon" Bonnie says angrily and opens her mouth to say more.
"Ah, ah, ah. I will handle this from here." I wave the box in the air and place it in my pocket. "What else did you learn on your little expedition? I know there is more to the story." I sing song.
Bonnie keeps shifting from foot to foot sneaking glances on Jeremy. Jeremy sighs and steps forward. "I guess the witch had been talking to the other side and there was a witch that knew an anti-aging spell." Jeremy shrugs.
"Gloria" Stefan and I say in unison.
"Looks like Klaus was trying to keep you around as long as possible to keep using your blood." Jeremy cringes as he looks at Elena
"How does the spell work?" Elena looks up at me.
"The spell would have the recipient only age one biological year for ever twenty-five years lived." Bonnie reluctantly explains.
Elena keeps looking at me and a small smile comes across her face. This would be a solution for us to have a life without her having to turn which I know she doesn't want to do. It wouldn't be eternity, but it would be a hell of a long time.
Bonnie must have seen us looking at each as other because she steps in between us. "No, Elena. I won't do this so you can be with a vampire." Bonnie glances from Stefan to me. I don't think she has figured out that Stefan is out of the picture yet. "Klaus is gone; this is your chance for a normal life. Marriage, kids, a career." Bonnie reaches out and grabs Elena by the shoulders.
These are the times that I really hate Bonnie. She is dredging up my concerns and doubts. I still don't think I deserve Elena and I worry if we are together she will someday resent or hate me for not giving her a chance at some kind of a normal life.
"Bonnie, you just told me that I am fair game for any supernatural entity that wants to come knock on my door. The dreams I had when I was young are gone. Do you think I could sentence a future generation to this hell? Unless there is a way to end a doppleganger from reoccurring in my bloodline in the future then I will be the last Petrova. Be my friend Bonnie. Let me create my own dreams and work towards a future that makes sense for me." After hearing Elena's words Bonnie starts to cry and pulls Elena into a hug whispering she's sorry.
"But you're right. I need to try for some type of normal life wherever I can find it and that is what I will to do." Elena gives Bonnie one last squeeze and walks over to stand in front of me.
"Care to dance?" Elena asks.
"After you" I motion to the dance floor wondering what is up with the sudden request. Once on the dance I place my hand at the small of her back and we join hands. We start to move around the dance floor.
"What is with the sudden need to cut a rug?" I tilt my head as I study her.
"Everyone also is concerned with me leading a normal life. What's more normal than sharing a dance with the man I love?" Elena reaches up and places a gentle kiss on my lips. The murmurs and whispers spread through the crowd quickly. I reach out my senses and I hear Bonnie gasp and Jeremy groan while Caroline giggles.
"You know you just outed us, right?" I smirk down at her beautiful face.
"I know." She smiles at me.
"I am waiting for the witchy migraine to set in." I glance over at Bonnie and see her glaring at me with her arms crossed.
"She' never going to like you, but this is my life and she will learn to tolerate you." Elena looks up and smiles at me. "So what was with the ring earlier?" Elena squints her eyes at me suspiciously.
I reach in my pocket and pull out the ring box. "This, this was my mother's. It's the only reminder I have left of her. She wanted for one of her sons to pass it along to the woman he loved as a promise of marriage." I take a large breath. "I know what it's like to lose all of your dreams. I once wanted to marry, be a father. Meeting Katherine and Stefan forcing me to turn stripped me of all that. I love you like I have never loved any other. You make me strive to be best the version of myself. I can't give you back you're lost dreams, but if you're willing I want to be with you and try and create whatever kind of future we can build together." I pop open the box and take out the ring. "My mother would have liked you. She would have liked for you to have her ring. And the fact that it now helps you be a bit more durable is all the better." I can't help but do my eye thing at her.
I slip the ring on Elena's finger and tears are falling down her cheeks. "It's beautiful, Damon. I can't promise an easy road with me, especially in light of what we just learned, but I can promise to love you with all of my heart and soul for every day I walk this earth, which if Bonnie's spell works I hope is very long time." Elena pulls me down for another kiss.
"What happens next?" Elena asks.
"Well, we got to act out one of your fantasies earlier. How about we go act one of mine." I wiggle my eyebrows at her. "Then" I brush a stray piece of hair behind her ear "then we face whatever comes our way, together."
Elena smiles at me. "Lead the way Mr. Salvatore."
This girl will never know what she does to me. "You, Miss Gilbert will be the death of me" I kiss her before leading her out the door.
A/N: So that's it. Neither will die, but the future will still be a rough road for our favorite couple. Would we expect anything less from the disaster magnets that are Damon and Elena? *sniff* I will miss this story as I had a great time writing it. I have a couple of ideas in the hopper for my next story and hope to start posting again in a few weeks. Thank you so much for taking this journey with me.