Second Chances

by Erin Salvatore


Note: Okay, guys, I have decided to rewrite this AU/AH Delena story because there was a bit of a problem with the timeline that needed fixing, so I deleted the old version and I'm going to use a completely different angle, and extend the timeline a bit. The plot has changed from the original as well: 15 years ago, Elena left Mystic Falls, and Damon, the love of her life, behind. When she returns home 15 years later, she has a secret that will either bring her and Damon closer or drive them apart.

Chapter 1

Salvatore Mansion, March, 1997

Elena Gilbert felt her heart hammer in her chest as the pen flew across the paper. She was leaving town, and it pained her deeply, and not just because she had to leave. It pained her because she was leaving Damon Salvatore, the love of her life. She looked behind her at his sleeping form and wondered if this was even the right move to be making. He was the reason she got up in the morning. Hell, he had been there for her when her parents died, and their love just got stronger with every passing day. In fact, they had just made a promise to be together forever.

Ignoring the tears that were forming in her eyes, Elena finished the letter and was about to leave the room when she heard a moan coming from Damon's bed. She looked over again and saw that he had awakened. Shit, not now.


"Go back to bed, Damon."

Damon scowled as he looked at her. "Where are you going?"

"I wanted this to be as painless as possible, but I guess that was too much to ask for," said Elena. "I'm sorry, Damon, but I have to leave. I can't stay here anymore. I need to see what it's like outside of Mystic Falls."

"Wait, you're leaving, just like that?" said Damon. "But, what about school? We've got a few months left until graduation and..."

"Damon, don't make this any harder than it needs to be."

"Think about what you're doing, Elena," said Damon. "Don't I matter to you anymore? Doesn't what we have together matter to you anymore? We promised to be together forever, and you're going to throw all that away?"

"I'm sorry, Damon," said Elena. "I love you, I really do. But, try to understand that this is something I have to do." She went over to the bed and embraced him, kissing him passionately. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

Then, before Damon could say another word, Elena had left the room. What the hell was going on here? Why would Elena suddenly want to leave when everything was going so well for them? They were madly in love and had the whole world at their feet. They were even the Class Couple, for crying out loud, and they were slated to become Prom King and Queen. How was that going to happen if she wasn't there?

Shortly after Elena walked out, Damon spotted a piece of paper and looked at it. The message on it was as follows:


It's taking a lot of courage to write this, but I have no easy way to tell you what I need to tell you out loud. I love you so much, and you have been such a blessing in my life, being there for me when I needed you, and I couldn't have been happier knowing that you would never let anything harm me.

It's because I love you that I have to leave town. Don't try to stop me because I made up my mind.

I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me for what I'm about to do. Don't feel like this is your fault, because it's not. I need to get out, spread my wings and learn to fly on my own for a while.

Take care of yourself, and know that my love for you will never die.


Damon felt tears welling up in his eyes as he read what Elena had written. He wanted to go after her, tell her she didn't have to leave, but knew that it wouldn't do any good. She was gone, and there was nothing he could do to change that. He would have to try and go on without her, but deep down, he knew that it would never be the same without his Elena in his life.

As tears streamed down his face, he whispered, "Good-bye, Elena. I will always love you."

With that, he crumpled up the paper in his hands and fell to his knees, sobbing.

Note: Here we go, the rewrite has begun. Fear not, because our leads will reunite.

What do you think? Let me know.