Love & marriage

Growing pains

A/N: Season 4, let's go! If you're wondering about Hayley and Hope, they will come soon enough. Through...other means necessary. 

There is a bright white light and the sounds of church bells ringing, sirens, and yard work going on can be heard. Suddenly, Elena gasps for air and wakes up. It's morning. Stefan is sitting on the end of her bed, watching her. She seems confused about what is going on around her. Diana goes up to her. 

"Hey, hey, sweetie. Calm down." Diana says, soothing her. 

"What's going on?" Elena says, looking around. 

"You've been in and out for hours." Stefan says, approaching Elena carefully. "Wh-what happened?" She asks.

"You were in an accident." Stefan says. 

"Oh my God. Matt is he...?" Damon interrupts; he is sitting on the window seat next to Elena's bed. "Alive? Ask Stefan. The hero."

"He's fine."

"Thank you. I thought that I – how did you...?"

"Save you? He didn't."

"When Jeremy brought you to the hospital before all this happened, your injuries were worse than anyone knew. Meredith Fell made a choice, she used Damon's blood to heal you." Stefan explains.

"And when Rebekah ran Matt's truck off the road, you had vampire blood in your system, Elena." Damon adds.

"Oh my God. Does - does that mean that I – am I dead?" The brothers stay silent. "You're in transition now, Hon." Diana says.

"No, no, no, no! That wasn't supposed to happen!"

"Maybe it doesn't have to. I talked to Bonnie, she says she's stronger than ever, there might be something that she can do to help you." Stefan says. 

"No, the only thing that's going to help is for you to feed and complete the transition."

"We have all day before she has to feed, Damon. That's a day to exhaust every possible way out of this."

"There is no way out of it. We all know the drill. You feed or you die. There is no door number three."

"I was ready to die. I was supposed to die. I don't – I don't want to be – I can't be a vampire! If there's something that Bonnie can do we have to try."

"We will. We'll try everything." Damon scoffs and rolls his eyes. "Your choice, Elena. As always." Damon gets up and leaves. Stefan looks at Elena who is still in tears. In the kitchen, Damon grabs a bottle of alcohol from a cupboard and pours himself a drink. Diana enters the kitchen. "Way to be a dick!"

"Way to get her hopes up for something that's never happened in the history of vampirism."

"So? She never wanted to be a vampire in the first place! It was your blood that did this, so if anything, you should at least try to be a good sire."

"Why?"

"Because she needs you. You're connected to her in a way that can't be broken easily. You being mean to her hurts her more than if she was just human. It's like a Dad berating his child."

"What a comparison. Listen, it doesn't matter if it was my blood, Stefan was at the scene. Maybe he shouldn't have let her die."

"Maybe you should try being more compassionate. The last thing we need is your thrilling narration." She says before walking away. 

XXXXX

Elena and Stefan are in the kitchen. Elena takes a bite of a sandwich and chews. "It's disgusting." Stefan says.