Elena looked around, slowly adjusting to the light. She was in the morgue section of the hospital. Why? Did they think she was dead? ..She noticed something different, her sense of smell, a hunger that settled itself deep within her - like it would never leave.

And then she realized it. With an astonished gasp Elena covered her mouth in shock.

She was in transition.

Her breath became uneven and she started hyperventilating. With heavy gasps she tried to right herself as she stood up but she couldn’t keep her balance. Her knees buckled and tears filled her eyes as she fell to the floor.

“NO!” She slammed her fists against the ground in panic. Her words came out in a tortured whisper, “no, no, no, no.”

Right then, Damon burst through the door. He saw Elena’s crumpled body on the ground and rushed over to her, gently taking her in his arms.

“Damon?” She looked up at him and then buried her head in his chest. “I didn’t want this.”

Damon shushed her, “I know” he murmured in her ear.

She jerked up right in his arms, “Matt? Where’s Matt?”

“Matt’s fine Elena.”

“God! I told him to turn back! This shouldn’t have happened!” She choked on a sob.

“Well, Matt was just looking out for you.. He wanted you to have a future..” Damon said carefully.

Elena grew stiff in his arms as a memory she had never recalled before flashed through her mind. And Damon was there.

“I got into a fight with my boyfriend.”

“About what? May I ask..”

“Life, future, he’s got it all mapped out.”

And then another flash hit her.

“So Damon.. Tell me, what is it that I want?”

“You want a love that consumes you, you want passion, and adventure, and even a little danger.”

She sat there quietly with Damon’s arms still closed around her as it all came back. And she remembered.

This changed everything.