She's been through a lot. More than we -- any of us -- have really thought about taking into account before. [ rebekah flipping out over alexander's ghost quite honestly scared him, because all of a sudden this girl who could snap him in half with her pinky if she wanted to was wilting at the mere sight of a man who's been dead since the 12th century. he didn't get the full story out of her, just that they were once a thing, and that the possibility of marriage was on the table, but it was clearly a traumatic experience for her. and the guy was a vampire hunter on top of it all. her reaction had been so alarming to the point that he hung back, stuck around -- longer than he should've, given how he ended up standing atop a bomb once alexander realized he could be used to screw with rebekah some more. it was only when his life was put in danger was rebekah able to collect herself and pull that mask back on.
honestly, he's been wondering just how much is that mask and how much is the girl beneath it. he's likely seen more of the latter than anyone has in a long, long time. ]
This is how you feel about Damon, isn't it? [ a bold question, one he likely wouldn't ask if he weren't suddenly able to see things from her point of view, to understand with a clarity he's not sure he wants what it's like to have feelings for someone you shouldn't. someone who's tried to kill you, who has killed other people and put you in danger countless times. ] Knowing you shouldn't, but having these feelings anyway. And not wanting to give them up, even if you know you should just bury it and move on with your life.
[ like closing the door when rebekah started to walk away. things could've ended at a vampire free summer and an assurance that they'd never work out. but something compelled him to keep that door open and take her up on that offer to get away and it wasn't just knowing that he needed to stop hiding in mystic falls and actually start living his life. ]