GreenEyedGirlx

Damon Sighed.

Here he was, sat on the linoleum floor in the bathroom of his dead best friends house, watching as his goddaughter splashed around with her favourite bathtime rubber duckies. Water sloshed around the edges of the tub and dripped onto the tiles, but Damon couldn't bring himself to care. He watched as the little girl giggled and kicked her tiny little legs to create ripples in the water, and smiled when she turned her downy head to look at him, wide blue eyes shining brightly just like her mother's used to.

"'Lena won't be smiling when she see's the mess you've made in here, kiddo." He jokingly scolded her as if she could understand, and Esme giggled, a hint of a milky white tooth peeking through. Reaching for the fluffy towel hanging from the radiator, Damon stood up, and with his free hand bought Esme to stand with him. He wrapped her up snugly in the large towel and leaned down to pull the plug out of the tub, watching as the water swirled down the drain. Downstairs, he heard the front door open; Elena was back from her date.

"Damon?" He heard her call up the stairs. "You home?" Damon didn't even have to respond, Esme's little squeal had already given them away and Elena's feet pounded on the stairs as she jogged up to the nursery where Damon was changing his goddaughter into a cute green onesie. As she entered the room, Elena cooed at the sight and made a funny face at which Esme giggled. "How's my little princess?"

Damon smirked. "Oh, I'm great thank you. How are you?"

Laughing, despite herself, Elena playfully elbowed him in the rib before her forehead crinkled into a frown as she took a good look at her granddaughter. "What is she wearing Damon?"

"What?" Damon questioned as he finished the last few buttons. "She looks cute."

"She looks like she's just been thrown up on." Elena retorted. "Did she not have anything else to wear?"

"Everything else is pink." He argued back, pulling Esme up to stand on the mat for inspection and Elena scoffed.

"Well, she is a girl, Damon."

"Oh, is that so? I hadn't noticed."

"Well." Elena smiled widely, showing perfect white teeth. "You've never been the brightest crayon in the box, have you Damon?"

"Nope." He grinned, popping the 'p'. "And you've never been the sharpest." He mused. "But you're still useable."

"Was that supposed to be a compliment?"

"It was whatever you wanted it to be."

"I'm sure it was meant as an insult."

"Oh, I'm mistaken." Damon poked his tongue out at Esme, revelling in the dimpled smile she returned to him. "You are quite sharp."

-

it is a vampire diaries based fanfiction, so sorry if you don't really like it, but constructive critisism is welcome:)

thankyou!

Theo for a boy.

Thea for a girl.

Which one do you thinks best?

So, I've had a fringe for like, 3-4years and its never looked as good as I want it to. Any tips on how I can make it look healithier so it doesn't seem so dead and lifelessly flat on my forehead?

thankyou!

This is just a small snipped of what i'm writing, but your feedback would be really appreciated:)

The first day of school set the whole year up for disspointment in Elena's case. To start of the wonderfully painful day, she was given the worst timetable ever, and the cherry on the cake was finding that, out of the 6,000 teenagers in the school, Damon fricking Salvatore happened to be her locker neighbour.

Reluctantly, she trudged down the busy hallways, past reuniting friends and squealing cheerleaders, stopping when she came to locker 410. Damon was already stood at 409, busy stacking up non-school related crap and struggling to close it again. She tried her best to concentrate on working her locker combination, but his constant efforts to make metal touch metal grated on her nerves and she found herself retracing the numbers over and over again.

Much to her relief, it didn't take him much longer to close his locker door, and she was finally looking into her own, bare metallic case. With no books to add to the hollow gut just yet, she settled for shrugging out of her cardigan, showing the cheerleading uniform she wore underneath, the word Timberwolves embrodiried in a fine stich across the chest. Unfortunately, Elena couldn't get away fast enough and the skimpy skirt she wore only meant she was good for one thing; ogling. And Damon had finally spotted her.

"Well, well." he smirked, bright blue eyes shining as his dimples made themselves known. "Look what the wind blew in."

Trying her best to ignore him, Elena placed her gym bag inside too, planning on coming back at a time she knew he wasn't going to be around, and straightened her skirt. She pulled on the hem, hoping that it would magically grow a few inches so he wouldn't purposely look up it. "You're not just gonna ignore me, are you?" he persisted, leaning against his locker, arms folded across his burly chest as he stared intently at her. "Because that's not being a good neighbour."

Elena sighed, feeling him staring at her, and finally flicked her gaze to him. She didn't give him the satisfaction of actually capturing her attention, so she quickly retracted her gaze elsewhere. "Knowing that I have to come here more than three times a day is already painful, so do me a favour, Damon." she scoffed, slamming her locker door shut. She presumed he would know it was rhetorical, so didn't bother in expanding.

"As long as it's dirty," He quipped, taking a step towards her with every word. "I won't have a problem with complying. In fact, you can have all the favours you need." He was too close for comfort now, his chest almost touching her's. She could smell his aftershave coming off of him in waves, and she felt herself leaning forward, hypnotised. The heat radiated from him, warming Elena in places she had only ever warmed alone and all that she could see was his dazzling, bright blue eyes boring into her's. Suddenly realising what was happening, Elena stepped back as if she were dodging a bullet. "You're disgusting." She spat.

Damon's smirk could only widen. He allowed himself to run his gaze over her body, giving himself time to appreciate the way the perfectly fitted skirt hugged her curves. "And you love it." He leaned forward again, whispering in her ear. "See you around, neighbour."

Elena couldn't help but shiver as his breath melted its way down her neck, creating a trail of goosebumps. And she hated herself for it. Most of all, she hated him.

Damon winked softly, seductively, before shoving his hands in his black jean pockets and starting down the hall, whistling as he went. Elena shook her head as a reprimand to herself and decided to go out into the quad for some fresh air to clear her head; she should never have let Damon get under her skin like that. Not after everything that had happened. She had only just taken a seat on the bench outside the blue double doors when the bell rang.

Sighing heavily in pure frustration, she stood and de-creased her already perfect uniform. Homeroom was her favourite part of the day, yet she wasn't so sure it would be all that great this year, considering her timetable and lot of locker. But she braved it anyway, smiling at those who passed and murmured small hello's, hoping against the odds that she would have Mr Saltzman as her tutor. If anything could go right today, she hoped it would be that.

So, drop a comment and let me know what you thought. Thankyou!

The rolling titles of the much loved classic 'Gone With The Wind' came all too soon for Elena and Damon. They stayed in the theatre well after everyone had left, curled up against each other in the uncomfortable movie seats. "I think we should leave now," Elena whispered, shivering as Damon ran his hands through her soft curls. Damon laughed throatily, a trademark smirk playing on his lips. "Just a few more minutes." He persuaded.

Elena couldn't deny him. She laid against his chest again, listening to the sound of his heart beating. It was so peaceful and calm that she could feel herself drifting to sleep. The credits rolled off and the couple were left in quiet darkness. Damon continued to stroke her hair, completely mesmorized by her beauty.

"Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt. But you need to leave now." Their brief paradise was disturbed by a theatre employee weilding a black bin bag, free hand resting on their hip. Elena opened her eyes groggily as Damon lifted her head to stand and she whimpered in protest. "Come on, baby." He smiled. "Its time to go now." Helping her slip on her coat, Damon laced her finger with his and pulled her close to him as they exited the premises. The cold winter air bit at their exposed skin, Elena shivering madly as they made their way down the street. Damon pulled her in even closer, willing himself to emit body heat to keep her warm.

"I love you," She whispered through the cold wind.

Damon felt the smile stretch across his face. "I love you too brown eyes."

As a fresh batch of snow fell from the skies, Elena looked up at the man who had stolen her heart, completely taken by his extremely bright blue orbs he claimed were his eyes. "Do you ever think about the future?" She asked. "Like where you'll be fifty years from now?"

Looking down at her beautiful, expectant face, Damon kissed her forehead in response. "Everyday."

"And where do you see yourself?" She pressed further, giggling when Damon bought their interlaced fingers up to his mouth and brushed his mouth against her knuckles. "On a porch somewhere." He confided. "Watching my grandchildren play whilst I hold your hand, just like I'm doing now. That's the only place I can see myself." The snow was falling heavily now, the white blanket on the ground swallowing any flakes that seeked comfort, and Damon quickened his pace. For a brief second, Elena imagined the same thing as she tried to match his wide strides. The image she could clearly paint in her mind was breathtakingly beautiful and she knew in that instant, that that was what she wanted too. "You cheesball." She joked, cuddling closer.

Damon grinned. "But that's exactly why you love me."

The warmth she had provided him with was snatched away quicker than he could register the movement, and Elena was being held captive in another mans arms with a gun pressed firmly against her right side temple.

"Do as I say and no-one gets hurt!" The wielder of the gun tightened his grip around Elena's throat, the tips of her toes barely scraping the snow covered concrete. Her coat billowed open, her shivers a result of the cold seeping through her red top. The young man himself looked no older than Damon, and he was shaking just as much as Elena was, finger hovering dangerously above the trigger. Damon raised his hands in a 'we surrender way,' and reached into his pockets to see what he could offer.

"Okay, okay!" He shouted desperately, heart breaking at Elena's terrified expression. "Just put the gun down." He fumbled around for loose change in the bottom of his jeans and pulled out his wallet. "Here, look. My wallet, My phone." Throwing the items onto the ground, his hands dived back into his pockets, looking for more, when his eye caught the shiny silver of the lapis lazuli ring his mother had given him for his seventh birthday. He shrugged it off his finger and added it to the pile, along with some crumpled up notes and worthless change. "Take them!" Damon pleaded, "Just please, don't take the girl."

"Damon..." Elena choked out.

Noticing the distress in her distorted voice, Damon scrambled in his coat pockets again. "Its okay, baby. Please mister, don't hurt her!"

The young man debated with himself for a few seconds, before quick as lightning, he lowered the gun, shoved Elena into Damon's arms, and fell to the floor to see what he could scavenge. He took everything bar a few copper nickels and dashed off down the alley.

This is only the first bit, but if you could tell me what you thought, that'd be great:)

thankyou!

Chapter OneChance Ecounter

21st July 1999

"Damon, honey. Stay close so that I can see you!"

Eleven year old Damon Salvatore had never been one for rules, so to those that knew him, his conception of 'close,' didn't come as much of a suprise. His mother's rule had been discarded like a dirty t-shirt; a pair of soiled pants in need of a good scrub, and Damon happily threw it to the wash with the rest of the warnings laid out for him. It was easy to disobey now; His father had passed before his younger brother Stefan was born, and there was no fear of a beating after being found out. Damon relished in the adventure and suspense, knowing full well that his mother would never lay a hand on him. It made it all the more easier for him to make his own rules; The envy of the neighborhood kids who wished for more freedom.

But although Damon sometimes ignored his mother's demands, he never took the beautiful woman that gave him life for granted; He knew that the rules were there for his safety, he just had a different way of perceiving words and phrases.

Little did he know, his ignorance changed his life forever.

It was the hottest day of the year on record the day Damon Salvatore first met Elena Gilbert.

Climbing over the picketed fence to Forset's Fields with his lunchbag thrown haphazardly over his shoulder, ten year old Damon Salvatore bit his lip in concentration, his eyes trained on the girl sitting underneath his apple tree. After dislodging his belt buckle loop of his trousers from a chipped piece of wood, He took off in a blur, his lunchbag knocking painfully into his lower back, but he didn't care; he just wanted to know who the girl was. As he approached, Damon slowed into a soft trot, trying to catch his breath as he prepared to bombard the stranger with questions.

Upon hearing the leaves crunch underneath his black shoes, the young girl looked up, her soft doe eyes meeting blue fire. She clutched tighter at the balloons she held as if she were protecting them, and with her other hand, wiped away at the tears that were making tracks down her red cheeks. Damon came to an abrupt halt at the sight and fiddled with the strap of his lunchbag, careful not to make eye contact again. She was already upset, and he didn't want to be another contriubuting factor to her tears. The young girl sniffled and stood up, the pretty black dress she wore flowing around her knee's as she did so. Damon, unintentionally, met her eyes again. Disdainfully, he noticed that her tears did not stop, and without even realising it, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his lucky hanky. The young girl took it, her smile conveying her appreciation, and she dabbed softly at her eyes.

This is all I have so far, I just wanted to see if anyone would read it. So, your critisism, constructive of course, would be greatly appreciated:)

Thankyou!

Prologue

18th October 2080.

No matter how old my eyes got or how frail my bones became, I never forgot what it was like to be young. Only now, my body seems to have failed me, and I am forgetting.

The days I used to spend running around after a football are the memories of a different man; a man so full of life, a man that had the world at his feet, beginning a beautiful journey. The eyes that stare back at me in the mirror are now of a man that cannot walk without assistance; a man that longs for a body that matches the age of his mind, a man crippled with heartache.

But he is the same man who cannot complain. Although his life has been one with regret and mistake, every bad decision he has ever made has led to every great thing he cherishes still today. And everyday, the eyes, so rich with knowledge and experience, stare back at me, and I know I am grateful.

My skin sinks into my bones, taut and painful as I move to take another shaking sip of some sort of herbal remedy one of the kinder nurses has fetched me. Claire, I think her name is; The young girl with the beautiful smile and long flowing curls that remind me so much of her. It slinks down my throat as it constricts with the swallow and I sigh unhappily.

I close my eyes, unable to control them any longer. Visions of the girl I had fallen in love with many years ago flood my mind, memories playing out like a long lost movie. Only I have forgotten my favourite parts. I can no longer remember the scenes that I love, the scenes that make me cry, not even the scenes that make me smile. With a long and slow sigh, I squeeze my eyes together tightly and try to remember.

My body has failed me.

I am forgetting.

whaddya think?

its a vampire diaries fanfiction, so don't judge. Don't like, don't comment. Simple as. Anyhow, if you do like it, your feedback would be really appreciated, im open to critisism(as long as its constructive) haha:)

Prologue

18th October 2080.

No matter how old my eyes got or how frail my bones became, I never forgot what it was like to be young. Only now, my body seems to have failed me, and I am forgetting.

The days I used to spend running around after a football are the memories of a different man; a man so full of life, a man that had the world at his feet, beginning a beautiful journey. The eyes that stare back at me in the mirror are now of a man that cannot walk without assistance; a man that longs for a body that matches the age of his mind, a man crippled with heartache.

But he is the same man who cannot complain. Although his life has been one with regret and mistake, every bad decision he has ever made has led to every great thing he cherishes still today. And everyday, the eyes, so rich with knowledge and experience, stare back at me, and I know I am grateful.

My skin sinks into my bones, taut and painful as I move to take another shaking sip of some sort of herbal remedy one of the kinder nurses has fetched me. Claire, I think her name is; The young girl with the beautiful smile and long flowing curls that remind me so much of her. It slinks down my throat as it constricts with the swallow and I sigh unhappily.

I close my eyes, unable to control them any longer. Visions of the girl I had fallen in love with many years ago flood my mind, memories playing out like a long lost movie. Only I have forgotten my favourite parts. I can no longer remember the scenes that I love, the scenes that make me cry, not even the scenes that make me smile. With a long and slow sigh, I squeeze my eyes together tightly and try to remember.

My body has failed me.

I am forgetting.

Its short, but hey, its a prologue(': thankyou if you do answer!:)

Im writing a book and I want some really unusual name suggestions for my main character. Her personality is pretty unique, so i want something that reflects that.

Thankyou!

These are what I'd like to name my babies when I have them. What do you think?

Elena Rain

Aria Emily

Noah Daniel

Finley Michael

Pheobe Skye

This is one im not sure about, but i love the nicknames for it.

Dianna Faith.

I love Anna, but i'd like it for a nickname, and faith, I think, is just gorgeous.

what would you rate them?

im really struggling to begin a letter to the mp on the topic of alcohol consumption in young people. I don't need for someone to write me the whole thing, just a little push to get me started.

Your help would be really appreciated!:)

"You have to promise to come home every holiday." Jenna sniffled.

Elena laughed and pulled her Aunt in for another hug. "I promise. And I'll even come home some weekends if I ever get the chance. Its not like I'll be disappearing off the face of the earth."

Jenna wiped at her nose with the tissue she had stuffed up her sleeve and gave her a forced smile. "Its just gonna be difficult not being able to see your face everyday. Not to mention I won't have any girl time with a houseful of raging male hormones." Her guardian sighed unhappily. "I just hope this is the right decision."

"It is the right decision, Jenna. I have to put the past behind some day right?" Elena smiled as her Aunt released her. "And what better way than to begin my future somewhere I can truly be free? Don't worry about me."

Jenna snorted and looked up towards the ceiling. "Its not just you Im worried about. Im worried about your brother." She admitted. "He's been having a hard time lately. We all have."

Elena, feeling rather guilty and uncomfortable, decided not to answer. Instead, she let the hem of her favourite white lace eyelet take her attention as she concentrated on the perfect stitch. A car horn honked outside, breaking the silence.

"That's Matt." Elena breathed out, voice shaky. Uneven, unsure. Truth be told, now her ride to the future was calling, she could hardly tear herself away from the sopt she stood in. Jenna made a sound in the back of her throat and dabbed at her eyes with a careful finger so she didn't smudge her mascara. Elena looked at the stairs, hoping to see Jeremy rush down and say goodbye, but another honk from Matt told her she didn't have much time. Before she could even attempt to make a move, Jenna had her enveloped in another hug, the familiar scent of her beloved guardian imprinting itself onto the clothes she wore.

"I love you, 'Lena." Jenna whispered softly into her ear, using the nickname she'd had since she was little. "Jeremy will understand."

Elena allowed herself a giggle and tried her best to attempt escaping her aunt's hold. "Eventually, anyway." The hairebrained woman corrected herself. "We know how stubborn he can be. But he will come around." Her tone was full of assurance, and like always, Elena didn't doubt it for a second.

"I just feel like I've let him down." Elena sighed, shoulders sinking. "In a way, Its as if Im abandoning him. But its not just that that's hurting him. Its the promise I made and am about to break without a second thought. No, actually, thats not true." She amended. "I gave this move a lot of thought. And I came to the conclusion that my parents would've wanted me to do this. My mom pushed me in the direction of journalism, and truth be told, I love it. I would be an idiot if I passed it up. Jer just has to accept that. I love him, he knows that. Support is all I can give, and in the past, I've done it all for him."

Jenna sniffled again and smiled sadly, nodding furiously. "Oh, baby. He knows that you'd go to hell and back for him."

Elena began to open her mouth in reply, when she was cut off by a short, sharp cough.

"And he'd go to hell and back for you." A gruff, familiar, warm voice floated down the stairs like music to Elena's ears. Leaning over the banister, a lopsided grin plastered on his face, Jeremy acknowledged the two women below him with wide brown eyes he had inherited from his beauty of a mother, Miranda, and the mischevious spark that they held, generously given to him by his braniac of a father, Grayson. "Just don't expect me to like it."

A grin stretched across Elena's features as she hopped up the stairs two at a time, ready to plunge herself into his open arms. For a sixteen year old boy that should've been more interested in video games, he held real, genuine warmth in his heart, and all of it was, and forever would be, focused on Elena and Jenna. They were everything that he had left, and nothing concerning them would be impossible. "You don't have to like it, Jer," Elena murmured into his shoulder. "you just have to accept it."

He hung on tighter, feeling every emotion he'd even kept bottled up come rushing to the surface. As always, his beloved big sister was right, but the stubborn teenager within would never let himself admit it. He'd always been susceptible to change, but loosing his parents and his sister within the space of a year was proving to be too much. He just didn't want the darkness to take over, fearing there would be no-one there to bring him back from the edge. "Can't say I could do that either." He whispered after a moment. "Your all I have left, Elena. Please, be safe." There. Final

Vampire Diaries Fanfiction, sorry haters!

After an incident threatens Damon Salvatore's future as a football player, he is forced to do mandatory community service at a summer camp. As sport is his speciality, he votes to create a football team for the younger generation. Then he meets Elena Gilbert, a young woman who teaches dance at the camp.

Would you read this?

i know its really short, but i'd love some feedback:)

As if it were the answer to all his problems, Damon took his glass and poured himself yet another bourbon. He closed his eyes as the soothing liquid trickled down his throat and he sighed in appreciation. The alcohol was definitely doing its job. He didn't feel a thing. All the pain was gone and his aching muscles were long forgotten.

Damon finished the bottle with one last swig and his mouth formed a perfect pout. His brows furrowed and, to make sure it was completely empty, he tipped the bottle up, trying to catch any dregs that might have dropped. Nothing came to satisfy his thirst.

Damon closed his eyes as his grip on the bottle loosened. His head fell back onto the wall he leant agasint with a thud and he held his breath. In hopes of giving himself some sort of comfort in the dark, he conjured up the memory that never failed to make him smile and right on cue, the trademark smirk he was so popular for made an appearance on his devishly handsome albeit slightly sallow face.

It was of her, because it had always been her.

Since he'd met the woman who was to become the most important person in his life, he'd never thought of anyone else. He remembered the way her lips tasted the first night they kissed at the carnival in the picture booth and the way she'd whispered that she loved him as they sat at the top of the ferris wheel. His heart soared whenever he thought about it, and tonight was no different. Except he knew she'd never say it again because he'd hurt her, and he knew it. What hurt even more was knowing he didn't have enough time to make it right.

Shakily, Damon pulled himself upright and braced himself against the wall to get to his feet. The house was so quiet you could've easily heard a pin drop and he sighed. The aching feeling returned, sinking into his bones. He wanted to cry.

Once upon a time, Elena Gilbert had it all. That is until her parents ended up in a fatal car crash and her perfect fairytale came crumbling down. Orphaned at 17, she must find someplace to live until college in NYC next fall.

What happens when none other than Damon Salvatore offers her a room at the old boarding house?

just wanna see if i should write it, let me know:)

im struggling for skill drills in gymnastics, i have no idea!

your help would be appreciated!

x

question says it all.

Im in a battle of the sexes with my best friend Alex, and im struggling to get him back. I need some really unoriginal, funny dares that help me crush him(':

your help would be really appreciated!

:)x

There was cold rain all saturday, and Caroline sat by the window watching it pepper down on the growing puddles in the deserted street outside. Literature and Biology books were scattered around her, with messy handwriting that scribbled notes in the margins and curled over pages that left it dog eared and battered. She tore her eyes away from her neighbours running for shelter from the driving rain outside and focused again on an extract from Macbeth, but her eyes barely comprehended the words. All she could think about was her appointment at the doctors the following morning.

Ever since she was little, she had never liked hospitals. She vaguely remembered the times she was dragged kicking and screaming to get her jabs, and crying for hours on end. Now that she was seventeen, it was a whole different ball game. She had to be sensible. Grown up. And she didn't like it one bit.

Thankfully, her phone rang, providing a distraction for a minute or two. She sat upright, the books falling to the carpert and stared hard at the name pulled up on the screen. A smile tugged at her mouth and she pressed the phone to her ear. "Why miss Elena Gilbert, to whom do I owe this pleasure?"

On the other end of the reciever, Caroline heard Elena laugh softly, before the seriousness kicked in. "Care, I need to talk to you."

The smile faded from Caroline's face, replaced with a concerened frown line. "What is it, Elena?"

Elena sounded as if she were about to cry, her coughs trying to hide her sniffles. "Im in trouble, Caroline. Big trouble."

Caroline bit her lip as she went about trying to find a jacket, forgetting all about her books lying strewn across the floor. "Don't worry Elena. I'll be there in 5. Just- Just sit tight."

With great reluctance, Caroline slipped outside into the hammering rain and made a mad dash for her car parked half and half on the sidewalk. She found that she was already thorougly soaked before she could even close the car door behind her and she shivered momentarily. The heater soon warmed her up and she sped towards the Gilbert household. It took Caroline longer than she thought it would, but the rain sheilded the windscreen and even the wipers had trouble keeping up. Eventually, she pulled up curbside and readied herself to go back outside.

The wind had picked up and she felt her jacket being pushed back, allowing more water to seep through. She was fairly certain that she would get pneumonia her teeth were chattering that much. She knocked three times, swiftly and loudly. The front door swung open, fast, and a hand clamped around her arm, pulling her in.

"Caroline!" Jeremy's voice was a mixture of surprise and worry. "Are you stupid? Oh my god, your freezing. I'll get you a towel" Jeremy motioned for her to follow him and she gratefully sank deeper into the warmth of the house. "That rains gonna progress into a storm soon. What were you thinking?" He babbled on, handing her a thick blue towel. Caroline shrugged and watched as he went about putting the kettle on. "I- uh, Elena needed me."

Jeremy looked up from the two mugs set on the counter and raised his eyebrows. "Its that important?"

"Yes. Jer, it is."

"Okay, then. Well, she's upstairs." His eyes travelled towards the ceiling before they met her's. "Tea?"

"That'd be great, thank you." Caroline buried her face into the towel, drying the ends of her hair. She was more than certain that she looked like a drowned rat. "Im just gonna- Yeah." She tiptoed up the stairs, looking at all the family photo's lining the wall as she went. Elena hadn't changed much. Neither had Jeremy. Except neither of them had vacancies where their front teeth should be.

"Elena?" Caroline called out.

There was a few moments silence before Elena's voice carried out into the hallway. "In here."

Elena's room hadn't changed much either. The walls had been repainted, a few more books added to the shelves and a single bed swapped for a double. Lying in a foetal posistion atop the covers was Elena, hugging the teddy she had had since birth closely to her chest.

"Oh, 'Lena." Caroline sighed in sympathy, watching as the brunnette's body shook from the sobs errupting from her throat.

"I messed up, Caroline. I really messed up!"

Caroline slipped off her wet shoes, not really caring if the rest of her clothing was soaked, and climbed onto the bed. "How about you stop crying and tell me what's happened?" she suggested, laying a hand comfortingly on her best friends arm. "Its the only way I'll be able to help."

Elena opened her eyes, red and puffy, then smiled faintly before bursting out into tears again. She took a deep breath. "Im pregnant, Caroline. And it isn't Stefan's.

Flashback.

Elena was almost in tears.

She clung to Damon's leather jacket like her life depended on it, with every intention of never moving, never letting go.

"You said that you'd never leave me," She half whispered, half sobbed. "You promised."

Damon's heart broke.

"And what about last night? Did it mean anything to you? Do I mean anything to you?" Elena gulped loudly, her stomach churning maddeningly as it dropped every second the deafening silence screamed at her.

Damon's protective hold on the distraught brunette in his arms tightened and he squeezed his eyes shut to prevent the tears. Flickers of last night returned to him, flashing fresh in his mind. The way her skin left a trail of goosebumps whenever he touched her, the way she held him like his was the only man in the world. He felt his heart break all over again.

"Elena," He breathed softly, "My dear sweet Elena. I can't deny that last night was the best night of my exsistence. You were the last person I ever wanted to hurt. But Im wrong for you. You deserve someone who can give you everything. I can't be that someone."

But his explanation fell upon deaf ears.

Elena stepped back, just enough to stare into his cobalt blue eyes, but just enough to keep her hold on him. Her hands wandered up his chest, fingers trailing across his throat, to rest on either side of his face. He felt his whole body igniting.

"You," She stated with complete confidence, eyes glazing over. "are the only person who's ever made me feel truly alive. You were always that someone, Damon."

Damon tried to look away, but he was already too lost in her eyes. His name floated off her tongue desperately, her hands keeping his head locked in place. All he could see was her. Emotions were running wild, too far gone to turn them off now.

"Your all I ever wanted."

There was no way of stopping the tears now, no way of pretending that she wasn't the same for him. He was acutely aware of Alaric, Bonnie and Caroline watching them, even more so for the tears that were partly streaming for them. In a way, they had been his family, and it had been a long time since he had ever had anything close.

"Damon, please, don't go." Elena choked, breathing rapid and uneven. "You have a home here. You have me."

Damon wanted to scream in frustration. He knew that, of course he knew that. Elena, Alaric, damn, even Caroline and Bonnie were the best things he never knew he could have. But he also knew this was a decision he had to make. This was always going to happen. He just couldn't bear the thought of sticking around to watch the girl he loved wither away and die, when he would still be the same person he was now.

He pulled Elena into another embrace, dropping a light kiss on her forehead. He wanted to stake himself right then and there for all the pain he was causing her on top of everything else she had been through. Guilt washed through his body, but he didn't bother trying to prevent the flood, he just went along and let it drown him. He needed to feel this.

Elena's body rocked with spasms as she sobbed into his shoulder. She couldn't believe she was saying goodbye to another important part of her life. The part that forced her to hold on and brave the storm. The part that had saved her from herself many of times.

In pure abandonment and selfishness, she clamped a hand around his raven black head of hair and closed in on the lips she had yearned more than anything to touch again. It was soft at first, their lips gently molding together, building up urgency as their tongues touched tentively. In that bittersweet moment, it was only them. But Elena knew better than to expect time to stop for her. The salty taste lingered, the aftermath of their mingled tears. It was the sweetest thing either of them had ever tasted.

"I love you," Damon's voice cracked out. His head rested against her's, eyes boring deep. "I loved you the moment I laid eyes on you and I dont doubt for a minute that I'll ever stop loving you."

Elena swallowed, hard, and brushed a finger across his lips. "If you feel that way," She whispered. "Then why do you have to leave?"

Her question was simple enough, and he knew how logical the answer could be. Instead, he kept quiet and untangled himself reluctantly from her hold, the warmth of her touch dissipitating instantly.

Elena watched as he closed the space between himself and their audience and she sobbed again, realising she wasn't the only one losing him. She vaguely heard Damon's hushed goodbyes to her history teacher/father figure, smiling sadly when his lip quivered. The two men hugged, forgetting their pride.

Caroline was next. She flew like a shotgun into his arms and they stumbled a couple of steps backwards. Damon chuckled softly and returned the

There was nothing to diffrentiate the girl with the darkness. She seemed to merge into it, hiding in the shadows as if they were one. Her face was hidden, but the moonlight struck the white and grey pinnifore she wore, like she were someone that just stepped out of a history book. The ends of her hair were visible, reaching down to her waist and Cassie managed to decipher that she was a curly red head. She took a nervous step forward, her hands shaking, palms sweating. The girls hair swayed as she ****** her head to the left and Cassie felt a shiver run down her spine. This is how I die. She thought suddenly, shakily. Im going to be murdered by a little demon girl because Im a stupid blonde who let her curiosity get the better of her! She shook her head as if to shake the thought out of her ears and took yet another step forward. The girl didn't move, but Cassie knew she was watching her. She breathed in deeply, the air catching in her throat "Are you okay?" she asked, the words coming out strangled "Do you need some help?"

Cassie watched the red curls bounce up and down, signalling that the girl was nodding. She reluctantly held out a hand, half expecting it to be grabbed and pulled into the darkness of the restricted 5th hall, but the young girl didn't make a move except to put one foot in front of the other and bring herself into the light striking through the floor length window. Cassie gasped, horrified at the sight and stumbled backwards, tripping over her own feet as she fell to the floor. One side of the girl's pretty little face was charred, skin peeling to reveal a bloody, grotesque under layer. A once clear green eye looked as if wax was dripping slowly down her gaunt cheeks, towards her quivering, mangled lips. Cassie heard a sob, and from the harsh breathing she felt pumping air into her lungs, she realised it was her. Tears began to fall rapidly down her face as she broke her stare from the broken little girl.

"You did this to us" A voice said, contorted and twisted, too deep and man-like to be the little girls, but her lips moved in time to which no doubt gave away it was coming from her mouth. Cassie dragged herself backwards across the carpet by her sore elbows in sheer terror as the girl came closer and closer, a mangled finger pointing at her. "You did this to us" she repeated again, only this time, more voices joined in, beginning a chant that had Cassie covering her ears in hopes that it was just a silly nightmare.

"You did this to us and you will pay, Cassie Monroe. You will pay for the pain you caused us all" The sources of all the other voices stepped forward, revealing themselves as they emerged from the shadows. Their faces were all burnt, identical to that of the girl leading them and Cassie felt a scream bubble in the back of her throat and an icy chill breathing down the back of her neck. With every second Cassie lay on the floor, they got closer, fingers curling in anger as their chant continued menacingly. Cassie's sobs finally broke through the darkness as she found her voice. "I didn't do this to you, please. You have to understand, I can help!" The voices stopped momentarily and the children stood rooted to the spot they were stood, before their faces stretched into smiles as if they were laughing at Cassie's pleads.

"We will get out revenge, Cassie Monroe" The redheaded girl said, the sound of her voice returning to a normal pitch, making it seem all that scarier. Cassie squeezed her eyes shut, blocking it all out as best she could, and when she opened them, she was no longer inside the school. Instead, she was stood before a wooden structure that had similar charred marks to that of the children on its wooden frame.

The cold chill of the night bit at her bare skin, making her shiver uncontrollably and the only sound that could be heard was the manic chatter of her teeth clamping together. She had been here before, recognised the triangular symbol carved into the wood of what would have been the door. With a sudden chilly realisastion, she knew it was a message. A message that needed to be delivered. A message that she needed to deliver.

"Cassie?" A smooth, familiar voice carried through the clearing, a mixture of surprise and worry. Cassie spun on her heel, her finger still tracing the pattern of the rune and came face to face with Shane. He swiftly strode up to her, retracting her hand away from the charred wood and stared at her hard. "You shouldn't be here, Cassie. You need to leave" he told her sternly, but Cassie wasn't going anywhere. "This is way too dangerous for you to be meddling in. I don't want you getting hurt"

Cassie's stomach fluttered, just like it always did when he spoke to her directly, but she took a deep breath to somehow wash it away and stepped forward, her feet crunching on the trodden leaves on the