"Tell me something," she spoke, her quiet voice tearing the peaceful silence between them, "something that will make me think for a long time."
He reached out his hand, just to gently move a strand of hair from her face, and tuck it behind her ear. "You are the love of my life," he began, "and truth be told, I believe that you are the reason why I am still here."
She looked up at his face with tears shimmering in her eyes. "Damo–"
He wiped a single tear from her cheek, shook his head, and half-smiled, "Shhh, baby. You don't have to say anything, just think."
They lay together in the hospital bed for some time. The room was quiet, nothing but the distant beeping of the monitors. Damon focused his attention on the soft rise and fall of Elena's chest while he absentmindedly traced small patterns on her palm.
"Damon..." Elena whispered. "Ask me another question please." Her voice was so soft as she spoke.
Damon turned his head to look at her. She was still as beautiful as ever to him. That never changed.
He gave Elena a soft smile, trying to keep it together. "You need to rest baby."
Elena turned her head to look at him. Her chocolate brown eyes pleading with him. She looked like she was going to start sobbing any second.
"Please Damon." she whispered.
Damon nodded and kissed her forehead. He cleared his throat and tried to pull himself together.
It didn't take him long to think of a question. He thought back to the time Elena was really into learning about the planets, stars, and the different solar systems. He knew just the question to make Elena smile, if only for a little while.
"Hmmm...Okay. Last question...How do you find Polaris?"
He felt Elena's body shake with quiet laughter against him. God, he was going to miss that laugh.
Elena cleared her throat the best she could before answering. "Ummm... Find the little dipper, then trace its tail down to the brightest star?" she replied softly.
Damon smiled and kissed the side of her hair. With quiet enthusiasm, he replied. "Yes! When did you go and get so smart?"
"Oh, pffffft...I have my ways." She breathed.
Damon smiled and squeezed her hand. Elena winked so he wiggled his eyebrows at her and her cheeks flushed a pale pink and she smiled softly.
They were silent for a few moments before Damon whispered, "You know, if we look at the same time, it'll be like we're together, no matter how far apart we are."
He heard Elena sniffle. Her voice had become even weaker. "Damon, you know that's not how it works."
He didn't know what to say. There was nothing to say because he knew Elena was right. That's not how it works.
"Okay, well, it'll be close enough." He tried. His heart was beginning to break all over again. This isn't happening.
He felt her shift a little. She weakly squeezed his hand. He felt her thumb brush softly against his hand. "I'm ready now." Elena whispered brokenly.
His head was tucked between her shoulder and neck now. He felt the tears form in his eyes. "No." He shook his head. "I can't, 'Lena." Tears falling down his cheeks. He brokenly whispered, "I love you, baby. I can't do this without you." He choked.
Elena's breathing was becoming more shallow, she whispered slowly to him. "Take care of our babies. I love you...so much." Her voice barely above a whisper now. "I'm going to miss you, Salvatore."
Damon held Elena in his arms and softly brushed his fingers through her long brown hair. She smiled faintly, his heart was in pieces.
He kissed his wife for the last time and studied the slow rise and fall of her chest. As she let out her final breath, he whispered, "I'll miss you too, more than you know."
