I just want to say a HUGE thank you to ALL you readers and everyone that 'favourited' this story and put me on author alert for the story; the feeling's just indescribeable! All the more that concluding this one shot (that turned into a two-short and now a 3-shot lol) sort of gets me depressed :( But, there's a surprise in store for all you guys as a way to say thank you for your continued support. Thank you for reading and REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW - Please? It would mean a lot! :)

Last Day of Paradise

William Shakespeare once quoted:

"When he shall die
Take him and cut him out in little stars
And he will make the face of heav'n so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun."

Some say the world will end in darkness. Some say in the scorching light. But for Elena, it wasn't either of those. Her world would end in complete and utter loneliness.

As the thunder quaked the sea into ripples, the water suffocated Elena further. Her eyes remained glued stuck as she relived that very last memory of him. It was the only thing she could grip onto whilst the waves forced themselves upon her. In the midst of the dark chaos around her, visualising Damon for one last time made the pain more bearable for her, enough that if this was her own private hell, she'd accept it. She didn't regret doing this. Because she knew that when you loved someone - truly loved someone - a part of you died every moment you were separated. And this wasn't a metaphor. She was doing the only thing that could give her a chance to reunite with Damon again. Stefan had gone and left her indignant; she couldn't change that, she didn't have the energy to go after him. He didn't want her anymore. And the only person that did want her wasn't here anymore. She had lost him. If only Elena had known earlier her feelings for Damon. If only she wasn't so naïve to push away the person she loved most. If only.

The storm wasn't letting up, instead it made the waves dash even harder. But the storm in Elena's head was just about to combust. She'd thought drowning would be much less painful than it was now. But she didn't regret falling. She only hoped it wouldn't be too long. She could feel she was starting to drown. Nothing could stop it now. And then it went quiet.

It was the voice of an angel that woke Elena from her trance later. Quavering her lids open, everything was too bright, like a flashlight shone on her eyes. It took her a moment to readjust to the deafening ringing in her ears.

"Wake up sleepyhead" a voice whispered.

Elena knew that she had to be dead now to be able to hear this familiar voice. One she thought she'd never hear ever again. Not in her lifetime. Blinking in amazement, she couldn't believe her eyes. Damon was mere inches away from her, his face pristine. He smiled his crooked smile as he took in her amazement. She couldn't speak.

"Damon…" she managed, breathless.

She felt as if her insides were cut open but then again, she guessed that's what it feels like when you've had about all the pain you can handle. But being with Damon again felt like he was her medicine, her safe haven.

"Shhh... you don't need to say anything", his voice was a whisper.

He was right though. Although Elena had a million things she wanted to say - three words in particular that she waited to repeat over and over again - she bit her tongue. Because she wouldn't take this moment for granted, she'd learnt her lesson. Or so had thought.

He was reading her eyes as he cradled her. All her pain erased in his company. He edged forward, looking dazzling as ever. She knew what was going to come and this time, she'd be ready for it. Elena began to part her lips for him, closing her eyes for him to take her in. She waited as his cool breath swiftly traced her lips. But then, just as she began to touch his lips, she felt a sudden rumbling. As her eyes darted off Damon for the faintest second, her surroundings were crumbling down like a tonne of bricks. It wasn't bright anymore; the flushing light was turning into a soiled colour, like undergrowth.

Flashing her eyes back forward, she expected to see Damon; after all, he had just been there. But he wasn't close enough to touch anymore. Instead, he was parting, drifting slowly into the darkness. In horror, she edged forward but she couldn't move her feet, looking down, her feet were locked, with spirals of moss tied at her ankles. She yelped out as he beckoned farther, his sweet smile disappearing as his face turned white as stone. Trying to free herself from the moss, the pain ambushed her again. The background caved in on him, sucking him in further. She knew that in a blink, he would have been captivated. So unblinkingly, she fought her feet from the moss before finally; Elena felt the wrath of her storm. She screamed out in pain, trying to free her legs and then…

Her eyes gasped open, regrettably. Her eyes flooded with water. She was still drowning in the ocean. Looking around, all there was was darkness as she searched around her. Fear crept up on her as she flapped her hands around her, trying to climb up the water. Abruptly, she looked down in fear that her feet would be trapped, just like she'd seen moments ago. Looking down, her feet weren't stuck but she was lost. She was swimming in an ocean of misery. Her throat ached as her scream echoed under water. Looking around mechanically, she couldn't see anything but blackness. She tried to get her legs up to swim but she just didn't have the energy. Instead, she was standing underwater, sinking deeper until she hit something. She felt herself crash into something hard. Using all the energy she had left, she turned her head.

Damon.

It all came in a rush then. He was standing there with all the vibrant colours swivelling around him, in what looked like a ballroom. It was other people swivelling around, dancing. Strangers. She couldn't believe her eyes. His hand was reached out, as if to take hers. She seemed confused. Since she didn't take his hand, he felt obliged to take hers instead and so he did. Within an instance they were face to face. She could feel him breathe, she could smell his sweet scent, and it was as if she truly was in the ballroom as he swayed her side to side. She didn't recognise anyone around her, she was simply mesmerised about how her memory didn't fail to visualize Damon perfectly. They didn't speak; she simply stared into his eyes – the eyes that she'd thought she'd never delve into. But she was.

Her mind went blank, she didn't worry about anything. But she knew she should've. Because this dream – like the other – wouldn't be far from it's end. And it would just hurt her even more if she didn't wake up from the façade. But she simply couldn't. He was here, with her. She didn't want to wake up, she just wanted to stay here, with him.

"You look beautiful" he murmured softly into her ears. He continued leading her on the dance floor as if he hadn't noticed Elena's tears streaking her face.

"Hey, don't cry." He whispered, giving her a cuddle "Everything's okay, You'll be okay" he whispered. But no, everything wasn't okay. Soon everything in Elena's mind would go dark, she'd lose Damon again and she'd wake up to herself drowning. And then it would all happen once again and she'd relive it.

Standing there, looking at his sweet innocence, she couldn't contain herself. She just had to try, she had to make it last. And so she closed the gap between them and touched his lips with hers. He didn't return the kiss, not yet and instead parted slightly. Seeing Elena's need in her eyes, he returned it finally. She savoured every last drop of him until finally, she felt him pull away. No, she wouldn't let him pull away, it was okay, he didn't need to stop. She wanted to do this. Damon needn't to worry abou whetehr she really wanted to do this. She simply needed this.

But Elena misread his actions.

He fell lifeless in her arms suddenly and came to her realisation. Her screams pierced through the entire room as she fell to her knees. His smile faded slowly as she tried to contain him but she should've known that this was going to happen. Her dream was about to end. She yelled, called the people around her – the dancers. But they all ignored her. Looking around manically, she noticed Bonnie and Caroline and called but they didn't hear her. In the far end, she saw Stefan. He stood motionless, his head slightly bowed as he stared back at Elena, a tear falling down his cheek. He seemed to be cradling a small vial in his left hand but Elena failed to notice; she cried his name out but nothing. No one heard her. Looking back at Damon, there was nothing there. Nothing… but nothing. All there was was a dark hole underneath her and she was falling. Crying out and fighting through her tears, the bright light had faded as the ballroom disappeared infront of her.

All that she saw now was darkness.

She spluttered out bubbles. Opening her eyes, nothing had changed, it was still dark, only the dream changed; it wasn't there anymore.

She didn't have the energy to cry anymore, it was as if she had run out of tears. So she gave up panting, gave up searching for a dream she could never have, gave up fighting. She stood still, against the dark boulder and stared at the looming darkness. It was a miracle that she had survived this long. What happened now, Elena would soon forget.

"Come on, fight Elena. You got to fight" Damon's voice urged out of nowhere. Elena couldn't see him anywhere but her eyes were too burnt to search for him, she just lay there instead.

"I can't, Damon. I can't". She said, tired. Elena was tired.

"Yes you can, Elena, yes you can. Don't give up on me now!" he sounded angry.

"No, Damon-" Then he appeared in front of her. Only, this time, it wasn't a dream. It was as if he was underwater with her. His hair soaked, his marble eyes glistening under the lightening from above. His hands were on her shoulders, shaking her.

"Come on Elena, do this for me. Don't give up. You can't now".

"Why?" she said, breathless. She didn't want reasoning, she just wanted an answer. What was the point in fighting when she had nothing to fight for? No one to fight for.

"For me, Elena. Do it for me". He said, shaking her vigorously again.

"Why?" she asked again, passively.

He looked indifferent. He couldn't make himself adhere to what she was questioning.

"Because I love you" he whispered despairingly, a tiny bit hurt that she'd questioned him.

"But you left me Damon. You promised me forever and left." She said bleakly. She didn't show any emotion, just passiveness. It was like she had died.

"No, I'm still here, Elena. I'm here. I'll be here until you tell me to go. I promise"

She smiled, politely. "Thank you but, you're dead, Damon. And this is nothing but a dream". Even though she could, she couldn't force herself to be in denial anymore.

"You're not dreaming Elena," shaking her again but on thing she knew, knew more than anything else in the world; she knew soon she'd wake up and Damon's promise would be nothing but empty words. "I'm right here – look" he grabbed her hand and brought it to his cheeks.

And just as he did, Elena shook and even though she knew this would happen, her scream still pierced through the ocean.

Blinking her eyes regrettably awake again, she was still falling in the ocean. There was no Damon - of course. Just nothing but… nothing.

As before, her tears added to the ocean. She couldn't take it anymore. If this was dying then she would accept it. With her heart turning to stone as the moments passed by, she stopped beating her hands, stopped beating her legs, stopped fighting. Stopped living.

Fighting back her tears, she stopped holding what was her last breath and let everything pour out. Within seconds, the waves crashed on her again as she closed her lids for one final time. He was there again.

"No Elena! Don't do this. Elena, please, you have to fight!"

"I… can't" she spluttered as her mind evaded her. If she could, she'd have fallen down but the water wasn't letting her fall deeper anymore; she had somewhat reached the bottom.

"Elena… please-" Damon started but Elena was just too far gone.

"I'm sorry… I love you" she whispered. She stopped forcing her breaths to come out.

As the raindrops broke the sky and started to fall into the ocean, the sky turned monumental; picturesque. The faint glimmer from the midnight moon streaked as Elena's body surfaced to the top of the ocean. She was on her back, her face white as a ghost.

Behind her lids, it was forever dark.

-xxx-

It took Damon four pints of blood as well as his own, to revive his corpse. And when he did, all he could do was sit beside her and wait for her to open those beautiful, adoring bright eyes. And today would be the day.

"She'll be fine, Damon." Bonnie whispered as she passed the room. He gave a faint smile, unmoving from Elena's bedside. "She's a fighter, just like you. It's no wonder you're a match made in heaven - or is it hell?" she attempted at joking but Damon didn't react. Bonnie knew - because of her powers - that it wouldn't be long now. Damon knew this too but there was still a part of him that hated himself for turning her, turning his loved one into a monster. He only prayed that time would make her forgive him. But he time, he wouldn't get; it would be now.

Elena blinked as she spluttered awake. Damon was at her side in an instance, guiding her up on her back. She coughed endlessly as she readjusted her surroundings. Seeing Damon startled her and she almost jumped back. He was careful to not scare her as he edged back slightly, his hand still on the small of her back.

"It's okay" he whispered, managing a sweet smile.

It wasn't Damon that made her jump, it was the thought of losing him again.

Elena gulped, sitting firmly up. Her head ached, but not as much as her throat. Looking around, she noticed she was in her bedroom. The sunlight was too harsh against her skin. Glancing around, she caught a reflection of herself in the mirror; she still looked the same. So why did she feel different? She reached her hand to soothen her aching neck, thinking there was a bruise on her throat. But just as she was, she caught a glimpse of her hand. There was a ring on her fourth finger. And it wasn't just any ring. Immediately, she gasped, looking at her finger intently.

Knowing what could be going on in her mind, Damon edged closer "Elena,... there's something you need to know".

She met his eyes. They were endearingingly loving, bright in their sockets. His tone was sincere and although she had an idea of what she had become, she didn't want him to speak it, he was hesitating already.

"Don't" she whispered. "Damon" she said silently, "Is this a dream? Am I dreaming?"

He nodded his head."No" he declared.

But elena didn't believe it. Sure, everything seemed real and concrete but the light was too bright and she still ached.

"Then...?" she was dazed and confused. Nothing made sense. Could she trust her instincts and believe this wasn't another dreadful dream?

"Elena, I'm so sorry. I couldn't lose you".

"Vampire" she breathed, "I'm a vampire?" she had come to her realisation.

He didn't answer, just nodded.

"And you're here. How? How? You... you died Damon, you were in my arms. Damon, I saw you die..." she began to get hysterical and Damon leapt up beside her, cradling her in his arms.

"Shhh," he soothed. "I'm here. I'm back." Knowing that she'd ask, he silenced her question by answering it. "Stefan. He brought the cure to me just in time." He felt her froze against his chest. "It's okay, everything's going to be okay."

It went silent for a moment.

"I didn't regain consciousness until about a day after and when I did, Bonnie found me and she passed me Stefan's message. How he'd left you. Why he'd left. But, by the time I came here, you were already too far gone. By the time I reached you, I thought I was too late. So I did what I did because Elena, I can't stand the idea of losing you, of life without you." He held back his emotions as the image of Elena's somewhat corpse when he found her, appeared in his mind.

She didn't answer, she just breathed in his sweet existance.

"And Elena, what happened that day, the words we shared, it's okay if you don't mean them anymore, i'm just, i'm ju-"

"I meant them Damon" Elena interrupted, She leaned against his hands, looking at his eyes "I meant every word" she spoke each word separately, each distinct.

Looking at her, sorrow overwhelmed him.

"I'm so sorry I did this to you," his eyes fell.

"No, don't be" she said, pulling his face up "I'm here because of you damon. I'm with you. And that's more than I can ask for."

He nodded. "I'll help you through this, i'll stand by you throughout the entire transformation and you can yell at me, throw things at me - hell, i'll even let you bite me" Elena laughed as did he "But, just promise me one thing." He was in direct eye-level with her now, capturing all her attention.

"Anything" she whispered.

"Never, never, do that again. Never give up on me again."

She smiled comprehendedly, "Just as long as you don't". A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"I'm not going to lose you again". He spoke solemnly. He truly meant the words.

"Forever and always?" Elena asked, after all, that's all they had, wasn't it?

Damon paused for a second before bursting into mocking laughter. "Seriously, Elena, how cheesy was that? I'm beginning to regret ever turning you if you're going to come back with lines like that!" they both laughed as he mocked. It seemed like it was a lifetime ago that Elena had laughed and it didn't hurt. Then, as she stopped laughing, he looked into her eyes, looking sincere, and returned the words.

"Forever and always" he whispered before his lips took Elena's captive. And this moment would be just the beginning of many more to come.

Thank you so much for reading! Care to review? :)

Wow, I can't believe that's it! I enjoyed every moment of writing this one-shot/3 three-shot and I can't believe i've finished it! Well, who knows, maybe i'll come back to it... there's still a few stories gone untold lol... well, i'll leave it at that note :P Thanks, again!