Candice

Twelve

Candice woke up the next morning to see she was in Damon's bed. Last night came back causing her to smile as she stood up and started getting dressed. "Candice? Are you decent?"

"Yeah." She says finishing putting her shirt on. "Come in, Rose."

Rose walked in and over to her. "Check my bite."

The blonde nodded as she moved the blood soaked shirt to see the bite was infected. She looked at her friend as she felt her heart breaking. "Rose?" She says. "Please tell me that Damon knows about the bite because, this looks horrible." She guided her to the bed. "I promise that..."

"You are sweet, Candice, but I will tell you now. It's too late, dear." She tells her. "Just stay by my side and don't leave me."

Candice nodded as she let Rose lay down. The blonde pulled her phone out as she needed her best friend. "Elena, it's me. Rose's been bit."
~~~
When Elena arrived, Damon was holding Candice in his arms. "I will try to find a cure to help her." He tells her as he got her to look up at him. "For now, you stay here and keep an eye on her."

Candice nodded as he kissed her head before he left. She turned to see Elena. "What is going on between you two and don't say nothing Candice Ann Forbes. I know you better than anyone."

"We had sex."

Elena screamed. "Let's go check on Rose and you tell me everything." She says. "You are my best friend and we don't hide things from one another."

The blonde sighed as she told her about the kidnapping and that's how Rose got bit. She told her how she realized that she was starting to fall for Damon making Elena bite her lip as she so wanted to tell her that Candice always loved Damon just hasn't seen it just yet. Even Caroline told her that. Candice walked into the room and saw Rose asleep. "I need to get Caroline to bring me some more blood because she is hallucinating, she's thinking I'm Alana and I'm not."

"Okay. This is going to be fun."

"Tell me about, but I promised her that I wouldn't leave her side and that is a promise that I am tending to keep."

Elena watched Candice go to Rose and started taking care of her. She knew she would have to have Damon talk to Candice. The blonde was putting a brave face on and not once has anyone asked her how she feels about all this. The person that should be asking is Damon.
~~~
Later that night, Elena left to chase after Rose as she called Damon panicking because Rose bit Candice and the blonde was bleeding out. Damon got to his house as Elena was getting Rose. "Candice!" He called out as he went up to his room and found her. "Candice?" He moved her slightly and bit his wrist. "Come on."

Elena walked in with Rose who was in tears as she remembered what she did to Candice. Seeing the blonde take Damon's wrist, Elena sighed in relief, but knew this was Rose's end. "Candice?" She looked at her. "Don't ignore love. I know you feel for him, but don't ignore it because one day, it will be too late."

"Rose..."

"You have been an amazing friend and I hope Klaus doesn't come here." She says. "You deserve to live with Damon, your sister, friends and family." She let a tear drop as Damon held her. "Farewell, Candice Forbes. Thank you for being my friend."

Candice took the stake from Damon and slowly walked to Rose so she wouldn't be suffering. "Thank you for being my friend too, Rose. Thank you for everything you have done. Now it's time for me to end this torture and set you free."

Rose took Candice's hand smiling as the blonde had tears. "I'll help you."

Damon grabbed Candice's hand and drove the stake in Rose's heart. "Thank you."

Elena wiped her tears as the blonde turned and cried in Damon's chest.
~~~
After Rose was finally laid to rest, Damon looked at Candice as she stood staring at the grave. "Are you okay?"

"Define okay?"

"I know there's a lot going on right now, but you still have me, you have your sister, and you have everyone here that are willing to help you." He says. "I'll always be there to keep you safe."

Candice smiled as she kissed him. Damon smiled as he held her as he kissed her back. He will keep his word to her. Damon will keep Candice safe even if it kills him.