Still feeling quite tense, Elena took a seat back on the bed. She was still processing everything that she had learned in the past hour. She still had so many questions swimming around in her head, but she didn't ask because she knew that he wouldn't have all the answers.

Sensing that she hadn't completely come to terms with the whole situation, he walked over to the bed and sat down next to her, placing one hand on her back.

"I don't know what else I can say Tyler, I mean...what's next? Are you going to be telling me that vampires are..." she began but he was quick to interrupt.

"Don't even say it. You know you'll only regret it, if it turns out to be true." He said sarcastically, and then added, "But no matter how much crazy there is in this town and in this life.....we're gonna be fine." He finished. She closed her eyes for a minute, in appreciation of his reassurance before responding,

"So that's the reason you've been acting so strange lately?" She asked, it's not that she didn't trust his word, but at the same time wanted to be cautious since she didn't want another moment like it.

He couldn't blame her for being extra careful. Considering the way he had treated her yesterday, especially after everything that had happened with he who could not be named in front of her. Everything that idiot had put her through. So he decided to answer her one more time.

"Yes." He said simply, and she smiled at him once again.

"So what happens next?" She asked him curiously.

"Honestly I have no idea. But how about we forget what comes next for now and focus on here and now. Let's just lay here for a while." He suggested, settling back down on the bed and pulling her close to him.

In that moment she was grateful for the peace and quiet. It was nice not having to think about anything other than that moment, in a way she found it comforting. Sure, everything they had talked about would still be there afterwards, but for now she didn't have to worry.

Everything was quiet. Peaceful. With nothing more to say, the only sound in the room was the sound of their breathing, and her heart, which was still beating wildly. Then there was a knock at the door.

"Enter." Tyler permitted, feeling slightly annoyed that their peace was about to be disturbed.

Even worse than he thought. It was his dad.

"What do you want dad?" He asked with a sigh.

"Come on Tyler, we're leaving." His father replied coldly.

"What?" He asked, confused but ready to protest.

"We are leaving your mother. Get up. Now!" He demanded, looking absolutely furious.

"I'm not going anywhere with you!" Tyler protested, becoming angry at his father.

"Oh yes you are. You don't have a choice." He spat and grabbed his son by the arm and dragged him up.

"Let go of me!" He snarled, struggling in his father's grip.

Richard did no such thing, and instead tightened his grip on his son to the point where it would cut off blood circulation.

"I said get off me!" Tyler repeated more forcefully.

It had no effect on Richard however as he continued to try and force his son to exit the room.

Unable to watch anymore, Elena decided to try and do something. She hated getting involved in family affairs between these two but things were different this time. Much different. Something inside of her snapped and she jumped up and began trying to make Mr Lockwood loosen his grip on Tyler, so then he could pull himself away. As soon as she put her hand on his arm, he threw her back at full force, using his elbow and colliding it with her face. She staggered back dizzy, and held her face in her hands, trying to relieve the pain.

At that exact moment, Tyler broke free of his father's grip and shoved him backwards into the door.

"I said no!" He growled, and then added, "If you want to leave then go right ahead. But I'm not going anywhere......and one more thing, don't you dare, ever touch her again! Do you hear me? You wanna hit me around? Fine! Go right ahead but leave her out of it because next time I won't be so easy on you." He threatened, his shoulders tensing incase his father tried anything else.

"She put herself right in the middle of it!" Richard spat back before storming out of the room and back down the stairs.

With his dad gone, Tyler turned his full attention back to Elena.

"Crap! Elena, are you okay?" He asked, trying to get a look at her face despite her covering it.

"I'm fine, I think......Tyler, I am so sorry, I never meant to..." she stopped talking as he began to shake his head.

"Don't. This isn't your fault. You were only trying to help, and I appreciate it. No one ever has before." He explained, still slightly shaken himself.

"If anyone should be sorry, it's him." He added, a great amount of hatred in his voice. Then he finally said the words, he had been dying to say his whole life.

"I hate him." He whispered.

Elena looked up for the first time, no longer cradling her face, she hated seeing Tyler so upset.

"Your face..." He began, trying to make a fuss over her.

"It's okay. It's only a bit of blood. I'll clean it up in a moment." She stated, going over to him and pulling him into a comforting hug.

For the first time ever, she felt his tears  drop onto her shoulder. She had never seen him cry before.

"Are you okay?" She asked, not knowing what else she could say.

"I'm fine...at least, I will be." He answered, no longer crying. He stopped as soon as she spoke.

"It's just been an incredibly long day." He explained, his voice low.

She felt him so much in that moment. Although what she had been through was so much different, she still felt his pain.