EMERY FOUND HERSELF entering the Salvatore Boarding house with Damon who was quick to pour them both a glass of bourbon.

She leaned against the wall as he handed her a glass with an amused smile, "my last drink."

"Shut up," she rolled his eyes, grabbing the glass nonetheless, "you're not dying. We won't let that happen."

"By we–" Damon took a sip, "– I'm guessing you mean you and Stefan?"

"Yes," Emery nodded, mimicking his movement as she took a sip as well, "we're not gonna let you die."

"Well..." Damon placed his now empty glass on the table and turned to face her, "that's not on you to decide. Since you don't want to do the job–" he toyed with his daylight ring, ignoring the way her brows furrowed in confusion at his words, "– I'm going to do it myself."  Within a second, he took it off, allowing the sun to burn his skin.

Emery's eyes widened and quickly flicked her wrist, sending him crashing against the wall, where there was no sunlight. "You little shit–" she picked up his daylight ring at the same time as Stefan entered the house.

His eyes widened at the sight of Damon on the ground, "what the—"

"— He took off his daylight ring and tried to..." Emery trailed off and watched as Stefan vamp-sped towards Damon and pinned him against the wall while her fingers tightened around the glass in her hands, feeling a familiar pounding in her head.

As always, she ignored it and focused her attention on the Salvatore brothers. Stefan was beyond pissed at Damon who grunted, "get off me."

"You're not doing this."

"Just did," Damon muttered, "you know what happened to Rose, Stefan."

"I don't care," using his vampire speed, Stefan threw Damon in the cellar and locked him there, "you're not dying today."

Emery placed her glass aside and joined them, standing near the door. She watched Damon lie on the ground on his elbows as he stared at Stefan, "what's the plan, Superman?"

"I'm gonna find a way out of this," Stefan responded earning a scoff from Damon, "oh, right. A miracle cure. Good luck with that one."

"I got Bonnie looking for something, anything," Stefan spoke, glancing at Emery, "like she said, we're not letting you die."

"Always the hero, Stefan," Damon spoke, "just tell me good-bye, get it over with." He then started coughing and rolled onto his stomach, placing his hand in front of his mouth. When he glanced down at it, he saw blood.

"Lie still," Stefan mumbled, "conserve your strength–" he then turned to Emery, "– could you stay here with him and make sure he doesn't try another stupid thing?"

"Of course," with a nod, Stefan walked out of the cellar. She waited for him to go before opening the door to the cellar and getting inside, closing it behind her. Damon raised his brows at her, "it's not safe for you to be inside with me right now. I'm gonna... hallucinate."

"I know," she sat on the ground across him, her back leaning against the wall as she stared at Damon. "It'll be fine."

"No, it won't," he mumbled, shaking his head, "you refusing to accept the fact that I'm dying doesn't mean I'm not. Look at this–" he rolled up his sleeve to show her the bite which had worsened, "– it looks gross as hell and god–" he groaned in pain, his eyes closing, "– everywhere hurts, Em."

"I can do something for you," Emery suggested, "I can take away some of the pain—"

"— No, you won't," he sighed, opening his eyes to look at her again, "you used your powers earlier, to push me away from the sunlight. Why the hell would you do that, hmm? Do you want to die?"

"No but I don't want you to die," she pulled her knees up to her chest, "you're the only person who weirdly I actually really trust, you know?"

"Are you saying that because of the countless number of times you made me compel your therapist that you attended your session?" He asked, a laugh getting past his lips.

"No... yes—" she chuckled, "maybe. Okay, no. You're my confidant."

"You're my confidant too," Damon mimicked her tone, "wanna know something interesting?"

"Shoot."

"I'm in love with Elena," he blurted out, grinning when Emery let out a laugh followed by a nod, "yeah, I figured."

"Oh, I'm sure you did," he tilted his head to the side, "so, your turn."

"My turn to what?"

"Tell me—" he cut himself off when he felt a sharp pain through his entire body, his vision getting blurry, "tell me—" he repeated, trying to push down the pain as Emery straightened herself to look at him, concern lacing her features. "Who do you have a crush on at the moment?"

"No-one," she replied straightaway, a sigh leaving her, "y'know I can't afford to date anyone with my... condition."

"Stop denying yourself what life has to offer," he mumbled, his eyes closing, "you should start living, Em."

"I am living," she frowned at his words. He chuckled, "no, I mean– have fun and all that shit. Go to some countries, do stuff that makes you—" he paused again, feeling as if his head was about to explode, "— happy. You need to get out of here. I'm gonna start hallucinating and I don't want to hurt you."

With an understanding nod, Emery stood up from the ground and walked towards the door. Just as she was about to open it, Damon's voice stopped her, "hey, Em?"

"Hmm?" She stared down at him, finding his eyes open and looking at her with a smile playing on his lips.

"Even though we're not blood related, you should know that," he took a deep breath, "I've always regarded you as a little sister–" trying not to sound too sweet, he was quick to add, "– no matter how annoying you can be. I just–" he sighed, "I love you, know that."

She smiled at him, "I love you too– and I've always seen you as a brother too no matter how much of a total dick you can be."

He rolled his eyes at her words but didn't stop smiling as he nodded towards the door, "sweet as always. Lock the door behind you."