While Stefan heads for a chat with Klaus. Gwen and Alaric races through town. Looking in every building for Damon. Splitting ways as night slowly erases the day. Stars shinning bright overhead. As a idea rubs through Gwen's brain.

Maybe, just maybe he wants to say goodbye one last time.

Gwen races past stone grave makers. Silently praying to be right. Coming to halt before her family's graves. Eyes watching Damon bent over her grave stone. Taken back by the disappear and pain on his face. Carefully Gwen steps closer.

Calling out to him softly, "Damon."

Talk to me.

His gaze shifts to Gwen. Eyes filling with more pain. As if a someone was cutting into him, again and again.

"I broke my promise," He whispers, "I failed to keep you safe," His eyes fall to the ground, "Failed to save Katherine tonight. Have you cursed me from beyond the grave?"

Save Katherine tonight...I don't get it. Wait, he could be hallucinating.

"Damon whatever you are seeing isn't real," Gwen steps closer.

Leaving a inch gab between them. As Damon lifts his eyes. Looking at Gwen as is she was really there.

"Please, if you have some power after death, take me away," He thinks I'm a ghost, Gwen realizes as Damon closes the gap. His gave almost touching her, "I don't want to live forever without you, Gwen."

Gwen's lips part in surprise,is this really what happened the night he died, before he become a vampire?

Closing her mouth, head tilting and gaze soft. Gwen raises her hand cupping Damon's cheek. Ignoring his cold clammy skin as her thumb runs across it. Damon closes his eyes leaning into her touch. His own hand raising to rest on hers.

"I'm not a ghost," Gwen informs him, "I'm real and not going anywhere. You got bit ten by a werewolf, but you are not dying," Because I can't keep living without you, leaning in Gwen whispers into his ear, "Come back Damon, come back to me."

Gwen pulls her face back as Damon's eyes open. Looking at Gwen with clarity. Fighting not to show his pain, "Hey."

"You done seeing things?" Gwen ask, dropping her hand.

Damon snort, "At the moment it seems. You know this graveyard could be a great spot for a picnic."

Laughing Gwen smacks Damon's arm, "Come on."

Damon takes one steps before collapsing. Eyes rolling into the back of his head. Body too weak to keep him up. Watching over him Gwen calls Alaric. Within seconds Alaric and and Elena arrives. Together they get Damon in Alaric's car worry gnawing on their hearts. While Alaric drivers them to the boarding house.

Gwen silently leans against her car. Enjoying the warming sun next to Elena. Not ready to look upon Damon's dying body. While Alaric gets Damon settled in his bed.

"Never thought I would pity or feel sorry for Damon Salvatore, " Elena breaks thwireless silence.

Feet kicking at small rocks, Gwen changes subjects, "How are you feeling? Sense coming back."

"Like I slept for months upon months," Elena chuckles, "Could probably run a bunch of matherthans right now," Elena hand on her shoulder causes Gwen to look up, "Thank you."

"No problem....just don't go dying anytime soon," Gwen smiles, "I might be annoyed enough to leave you be this time."

Elena grins, "I will try," grinning dropping she switches back to serious, "Thank you for helping my Aunt Jenna not become a sacrifice."

"Alaric helped too," Gwen shrugs, "Who did Klaus end up using anyway?"

Elena eyes drop, "My biological father John," Gwen fights the urge to scream, Why is it always family and friends who pay the price that was meant to be ours? "Hey, it's not your fault. No matter what Klaus wanted to use someone I cared about. "

Before more can be said Alaric joins them. Looking grim as Gwen feels. Seeing this Elena tryst trouble resures them, "Stefan will get Klaus to help.... If anyone can it would be him."

Now it is just a waiting game.

After promising she can handle it. Elena and Alaric leave to be with Jenna. Reminding Gwen to call if there is trouble. Inside she stares at her childhood friend. Laying in bed, sweaty, body weak, a shell of his vibrant self. While regret and fear attacks her insides. Regret for their simple lives torn apart. For their friendship turning into a storm. Filled with hurtful words, anger and fear to fall. Fear that letting her glued down. Giving into brief feelings for Damon. Would distraction her from why she returned to town, why she took Michael's offer. Regret for letting her fear control her. Fear of rejection again. Fear of being vulnerable to Damon. And now here Gwen stands scared. To lose Damon and be left alone. With a hole in her heart. Scared without Damon she will never heal.

Why is everyone I love leaving me. Is Stefan next? Is my future a life alone until death?

Damon opens his eyes. Watching Gwen casually wall to the bed. Sitting and greeting him, "Hey."

"Hey," His reply is followed by a cough.

"I better let you rest," Gwen shouts to stand. Damon's hand grabs hers, stopping Gwen.

She stares as his thumb runs over the ring he gave her. Damon's voice draws her eyes you his pleading ones, "Stay," more coughing, "I enjoy your company, being alone sucks."

With a sad smile Gwen nods. Unhappy when his hand leaves hers. Carefully Gwen reproaenys hersrlf. Lying next to him on her side.

"You should have found me in 1864, would have had a blast," Gwen's teeth dig into her bottom lip as Damon coughs. His voice weak afterwards, "I'm sorry, for pushing you away, for choosing Katherine.....I deserve this."

"No, you don't deserve death," Gwen insists, her voice stern, "Not for being human, for making a mistake just like thousands of others have before you and after. For loving someone who wasn't right."

"I love you Gwen Jordan, always....even if you don't love me."

Gwen scoots closer a lump forming in her throat. Heart painfully tightening, as if being squeezed by a invisible hand. Tears leaking down her face.

As Gwen gives in Whispering what she can't deny, "I love you, " Damon stares at her, eyes wide, "It's the truth, I remember Damon what you said, compelled me to forget. When returning my necklace to me," Gwen leans over Damon, face hovering above his, "I forgive you for everything."

Gwen connects her lips to his. Gently painting a kiss. While Damon's hand cups her cheek. Whaling away the liquid running down it. Her lips stay on his only for a second. Warm bliss earsing the pain. Damon smiles as Gwen pulls back.

"Thank you," Damon whispers, his thumb making circles on her cheek. It's not fair, for him to be taken away, when we are ready to embrace our second chance.

Katherine's smug voice breaks their piece, "It's me you should be thanking....after all I brought the cure."

"Was hoping you were dead." 

Katherine tilts her head, "Not sorry to disappoint."

Jumping up Gwen questions Katherine, "Where is Stefan?"

"Gone, left with Klaus," Katherine I forms them walking towards Damon, "Made a deal, gave himself over inechange for this," Katherine shakes the veil of blood in her hand, "To save his brother."

"You got free answers still came here?," Damon questions as Katherine opens the veil. 

Sitting down, hand to touching his face, Katherine pours the blood into Damon's mouth, Informing him, "I owed you one."

Done Katherine vamp speeds to the door. Stopping when Gwen calls out, "Wait!," Katherine keeps her back facing Gwen, "Was it one person who payed you to....kill me and my family? Or was it a group? Did you get a name or names?"

Smirking Katherine faces Gwen, "Just one man...no name, but," Katherine steps closer, eyes full of venom, "He had a tone of digest when speaking about your family," Her voice drops, "Guess I wasn't the only one who saw through the perfect model family....maybe daddy had a gambling problem and couldn't pay or mommy found someone else to love."

Gwen blood boils at her cutely words, "I'm letting you walk away now because you brought Damon the cure," Gwen narrows her eyes, letting her own voice full with venom, "Next time we cross paths will end with a stake in your heart....might want to leave town."

Smiling Katherine leaves, her laughter echoing in Gwen's mind.



Morning rays shine down on five grey gravestones. One which holds no body underneath it, just a empty coffin. The others pices of Gwen's heart that she will treasure forever. No longer anchors to weigh her down. No longer ghost to chase after or haunt her dreams. Gwen stares at her family gravestones. This time free of pain or guilt, just a sense of peace. 

"How long until they arrive in town?" Damon questions.

Gwen already knows who he is talking about. She can still recall the uncomfortable phone-call. Informing his parents of his death and holding back her own tears as they wept. 

"A week to two," Gwen answers, thank goodness for preservation spells.

Kneeling down before her mothers grave. Gwen carefully digs a shallow hold next to the gravestone. Once stasfied she pull out a small key from her pant pocket. The one she found in her ansotrs dairy. Carefully Gwen places it in the hole followed by her ring from Micheal. Without a second thought she covers them. flattening the dirt as if she never touched the ground. 

"Why not hold on to the ring until its magic is gone?" Damon asks.

Standing up Gwen replies while rejoing him, "Don't need it, time has been frozen for me long enough, I'm ready to age again." 

"So what are you going to do now?"

Gwen snorts, "Get Stefan back, find away to give the ghost connect to the crystal peace, maybe figure out what my mom neat by trust Charlotte....just to name a few, " Gwen shrugs, " I want to live and heal, but above all I want to be with you."

Without hesitation Gwen takes Damon's hand in hers. Their eyes connect both unguarded shining with love and affection. A huge smile graces Gwen's face. While happiness and bliss overwhelming her. Damon match her smile with his own.