Elena's cries still echoed in his head as he walked away from her. His heart ached, but he had meant every word he had said. He had lived the life he wanted because she had loved him.

Now he was about to do the second hardest thing he had ever done: say goodbye to his brother. Damon let out a harsh breath, sitting down next to Stefan.

He knee his brother couldn't hear him or see him, but this was something he needed to do. Something he needed to do to be able to move on.

"Dont be getting mushy on me now, Stef," he spoke. He squinted one eye to look up at the sky and sighed.

"Kind of wish you at least could hear me."

Damon looked up as Stefan said his name, and frowned. He reached out to rest a hand against his brother's shoulder.

"I'm here little brother," he said softly. He squeezed slightly, not certain if Stefan could feel him or not, but Elena had so he hoped.

"Theres...a lot that I should say to you. I made your life hell..."

He let out another breath, closing his eyes. A bitter laugh passed his lips.

"You are the only thing I regret, Stefan."

Damon couldn't help but laugh at the way Stefan reacted. He threaded his fingers together, leaning forward. He paused, then bent down to pick up a rock. He tossed it in the air, and then threw it at Stefan.

"Calm down, Casanova." He chuckled then stood up to stand in front of Stefan. He placed his hands in his pockets, shifting slightly in place.

"I'm sorry Stefan. For not being the big brother you needed...that you deserved."

Damon smirked at the insult. He let his head drop as his smirk faded.

"You're the hero, Stefan. Not me. So you were the obvious choice to save."

He paused then shook his head. When he raised his head, tears were shining in his blue eyes.

"And you're my brother, Stefan. I wasn't about to leave you..."

He swallowed, tapping his foot. "I love you, Stefan. I don't always like you...but..."

"I know Stefan..." He paused then reached out to rest his hand against his shoulder once again.

"Take care of them," He said softly. He opened his mouth to say something more, but then he heard Bonnie call his name. He swallowed, turning back to look at him.

"Goodbye, little brother." He squeezed, then turned around. He swallowed again, emotions threatening to choke him. He had to force his feet to walk towards Bonnie.

There was nothing she could do to save them. Elena's pleas to bring Damon through, Caroline's calls for Luke and Liv, none of it would matter. She looked around the cemetery, saying goodbye to her friends as they rushed around desperately looking for a way to stop this. There was no way. As she felt the final pull of the Other Side collapsing, she turned to look toward Damon and Stefan, who just looked shell shocked.

"Damon." She hated to pull him away, but there wasn't much time left. As Damon walked toward her, she heard her name and spun around. Jeremy was running through the woods, racing to get to her, but it was too late. All at once she was on the Other Side, no longer on the physical plane. Jeremy came to a halt in front of her, but because of the Other Side falling apart, he couldn't see her. She reached out to him, but she couldn't feel him.

Damon stopped next to her and with a last look, they turned together toward the Darkness that was consuming the Other Side. She took his hand and looked over at him. "I'm sure there are a million different people we'd rather be with but...I'm glad you're here."

Holding Damon's hand tight, more afraid than she wanted to admit, she watched as the wind grew stronger, blowing their hair and clothes. Again, she thanked the powers that be that she wasn't alone for this. Grams' words came back to her and she wondered what Grams had meant when she said she'd taken care of her. Whatever she'd done must not have worked as here she stood with Damon, facing the nothingness that was going to suck them in.

The light grew, coming for them, the trees in front of them blowing in the harsh wind and then disappearing altogether. As it neared, she braced herself, her last thoughts of her friends, her mother, all of whom they were leaving behind to grieve.