So, it's been quite a long time since I've touched this story. I've had a lot going on in my life, but I've missed writing far too much. After rereading this, I wasn't too happy with the way that I originally wrote this. I planned this story from beginning to end. I would like to revise the chapters. I had eight posted originally, all of which I have saved and they will be quite similar. Of course there will be some minor changes and additions here and there, but I think you are all going to really enjoy this one. I've been craving for Delena for quite some time as well, so I hope you all love this story as much as I love writing it.


Elena Gilbert hadn't had the best life, but she had managed to live happily enough. She was a cheery girl, despite all the darkness that had surrounded her. Her parents had died in a tragic car crash when she was only sixteen years old. A car crash that she had blamed herself for every day. Shortly after their passing, her Aunt Jenna had moved into the household to look after her and her younger brother Jeremy. The bond between Elena and Jeremy had always been strong, but began to falter once Miranda and Grayson died. Jeremy had gained a drug problem and got involved with some pretty bad people. He managed to stay out of trouble but Elena constantly worried about him. Jeremy had accused her of being more judgemental than anything else because she didn't approve of who he chose to associate himself with.

A year had passed and Elena had been sorting through her parents things when she discovered adoption papers. To this day, she could still remember the shock she felt amongst finding them. The brunette had easily jumped to the conclusion that Jeremy had been adopted, but when she saw her name in bold print, her heart sunk. Her world had fallen around her. Never in a million years would she have guessed that she was the misfit. It had only made her feel worse about the night they died. Upon confronting her aunt, she was even more shocked to find out that her father was the man she had hated growing up. John Gilbert, her supposed uncle. Even after Jeremy found out, their bond remained strong. He claimed that it meant nothing and she would always be her sister, but the guilt she felt regarding the accident had left her doubtful. It was something she struggled with on a daily basis, something she continuously kept buried.

After high school, Elena stayed at home to keep an eye on Jeremy and studied medicine at Whitmore. It wasn't far from home at the time, which allowed her to be close enough to him. When Elena thought that Jeremy had finally cleaned up his act, she transferred to Duke University to further her studies.

Years later, Elena was a surgeon at Mystic Falls General Hospital. She worked in the ER and was considered one of the best doctors in the better half of Virginia. It only comforted her to know that Jeremy was doing well. He was studying art at the local college and was an aspiring graphic novelist. It had seemed like he had finally grown up and into a man that their parents would have been proud of. Over time, Elena had adapted to her life as the adopted Gilbert. John Gilbert may have been her biological father but it had been Miranda and Grayson that raised her. Elena even lived in the home she grew up in still, sharing it with her Aunt Jenna as the home was much too big for just one person. Jeremy had found his own place, an apartment above the Mystic Grill. He sought independence and Elena had only assumed it was because he was becoming more mature. All had seemed well and for once Elena had no worries. She was happy, she was single, and despite her long hours in the ER, she was living a normal life. It helped that her two best friends, Caroline and Bonnie, still lived in Mystic Falls and from time to time they all met up at the Grill to catch up.

It was the middle of August when Caroline called her up and invited her to a party. They worked together at the hospital, but Caroline was a nurse. It wasn't too often that they had time to really talk or even get lunch together. The party was actually the annual bonfire. She was no stranger to the wild parties that were thrown and for the first time in what was years, she felt the need to get out of the house and have some fun. She didn't think she'd run into him, Matt Donovan, her high school sweetheart. The truth was, she had never truly loved him whereas Matt had fallen head over heels for her. Just looking at him now she could see the longing in his eyes, something that only made her want to get away. It wasn't as if there was anything wrong with him. Matt was one of the best guys that she'd known and grown up with. She just hadn't fallen in love with him. Despite having a beer and mingling with some old friends, it was as if his eyes were burning into her back and she could feel that he was going to come up to her at any moment. Excusing herself from some girls that she knew from her old chemistry class, Elena snuck off to take a walk and gain some space.

It was times like this that made Elena wish that she still had her mother around. She had always had the best advice and her gentle, caring tone had always been comforting. The brunette didn't want to continue to break Matt's heart, but she couldn't be with someone that she didn't see a future with. It was something she knew Matt could see and feel, but to Elena - there was no spark. She'd lost her virginity to him, at a party nonetheless. He had been so kind and Elena always worried that that was the problem. It was as if she was seeking more. It was a night like tonight that her parents had picked her up from the party. The annual bonfire. She had been stressed the entire day after Bonnie pointed out what she had known all along. That she hadn't loved him. She had felt so suffocated and confused that she had called her parents to come and get her. Their car had malfunctioned and caused them to crash over the Wickery Bridge on the way to pick her up. Shortly after the tragedy all those years ago, Elena ended things with Matt. He had taken it hard and it seemed that he had never gotten over it. It was the main reason she needed some space from the party, needing to clear her head.

As she strolled alongside the falls, she cut through the treeline so that she was walking near the open highway. The sky was full of stars that night and the sound of crickets and owls hooting in the distance had calmed her down significantly. Not many people traveled along the road, so she knew she wouldn't have to really deal with the sound of cars clashing with nature. It was the only road that led in and out of Mystic Falls and the Falls wasn't exactly a tourist attraction. It was then that she saw a dog running through the woods, headed towards the highway when she gasped seeing the incoming car. So much for no traffic.

Panic set in and she began to run as fast as her legs could go as she saw the car speeding down the road towards the dog.

"HEY!" She screamed, waving her arms as she desperately tried to catch the dogs attention. The car sped closer and closer and Elena screamed, fearing the worse. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she wasn't sure she could witness this.

"STOP!" She pleaded and held her hands over her face, as if preparing for the inevitable. The sound of tires screeching and no clear impact forced her to look up. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw the car swerve around the scared dog, continuing on down the road as if nothing happened. Unable to help herself, she ran out into the middle of the road and threw her arms around the dog.

"Oh you poor puppy." She said as another car, traveling down the road had begun to slow down and pull over into the shoulder. It was a light blue Camaro with what appeared to be a convertible top. The driver got out of the car quickly and Elena looked up to see a man in dark jeans a black v-neck. His headlights were blinding her, making his appearance hard to place. She covered her eyes and he took it as a signal to go back and turn them off. As he rushed over to her, she heard him mutter an apology for the lights. Already, she found herself infatuated with the strangers smooth and velvety voice.

"Are you okay?" The man asks as he jogs over and kneels beside the brunette and the dog.. Elena watched as his piercing blue eyes scanned over her and the dog for any injury. Her eyes caught his and she inhaled sharply, as if at a loss of words before she finally managed to nod her head.

"Yes…yes, we're fine." She stuttered, her voice shaky. "There was a car…"

"Yes, I know. I saw everything. Is this your dog?" He cut her off with a nod as he knelt beside her closely, looking around as to check for any other cars.

"No. I was just walking around the falls and I saw him run out and then the car..." She explained, running her fingers through the puppys mane and letting out yet another sigh. "I thought he was going to get hit."

"That was very brave of you. Dangerous though." The man with the jet black hair pursed his lips, his brows furrowing as he stood and offered his hand. "We really should get you two out of the road before another car comes though." As she slipped her hand into his and began to stand, the adrenaline that had been with her several moments prior had seemed to give and she accidentally stumbled against him.

"Sorry." She mumbled as she caught herself, her hands on his chest and she smiled shyly. Her legs felt like jello and she was having a hard time processing the past few minutes. She straightened herself up and managed to catch the smirk that pulled at the corner of his mouth. She cleared her throat as she looked down, a cute golden retriever looking up at her timidly. It couldn't any more than a year old and it was obvious the poor thing was a little traumatized. It loyally stayed by her side and followed her as she and the man walked back to the shoulder.

They were now underneath a streetlight when he got a good look at her face. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. As Elena looked at him she couldn't help but let her eyes wander from his raven black hair to his strong jawline.

"I'm Elena." She smiled at him, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I'm Damon." He responded, his lips curving upwards slightly. "Not to be rude or anything Elena but it's kind of weird for you to be out alone in the middle of nowhere." He joked, what appeared to be his signature smirk lining his features. "Not to mention it's well after midnight."

Elena shrugged and looked around. "It's Mystic Falls, nothing bad ever happens here."

He chuckled and looked at her in disbelief, a small smile breaking through on his lips. "Right, just speeding cars that almost run you over right?"

Elena laughed a bit and crossed her arms. "And what about you? Driving through the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night?"

He looked around as he laughed gently. "Well, I'm returning to Mystic Falls. Plus, I'm more of a night person than a day person."

"Right..." She trailed and shook her head as she sighed. "There's actually a get together in the woods, I needed to escape for a bit. The whole 'ex hasn't gotten over me' problem." She shrugged before realizing that she just told a stranger something that certainly wasn't any of his business.

"You don't want him?" He looked at her as he leaned against the hood of his car, crossing his ankles and putting his hands in his jean pockets. He didn't appear to mind and instead seemed interested.

"I don't know what I want." She replied, walking over to the hood and leaning against it as well.

He looked at her, tilting his head a bit. "Well that's not true." He countered. "You want what everybody wants."

"What?" She paused as she tilted her head and smiled playfully. "A mysterious stranger who has all the answers?"

He laughed and withdrew his hands from his pockets, uncrossing his ankles as he stood straight up and turned towards her. "Well, let's just say I've been around a long time. I've learned a few things." He pursed his lips and sent her a wink. Elena noticed that Damon had a big personality and it was certainly attractive.

Elena uncrossed her arms and stood fully upright again, taking a step towards Damon with that same playful smile.

"Mhm hmm...so tell me Damon…what is it that I want?" Her eyes roamed his features as she noticed him taking a step closer to her with a cocky grin on his face.

"Now if I told you that, then the thrill of it would be gone now wouldn't it?" They were mere inches apart and the dynamic between them thus far was so intriguing that Elena just couldn't help herself. She usually wasn't this forward, but there was something about him that was pulling her in.

She looked at him as she glanced down to his lips, not saying a word. She felt like his presence was consuming her as he leaned closer and she was thriving off of it.

"But if you must know, I'll tell you." He gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look into his bright cerulean eyes.

"You want a love that consumes you…"

Elena felt herself shiver as the words came out of his mouth. They pulled her in further and it was as if there was a connection forming already.

"You want passion, adventure, and maybe even a little danger."

It was as if he had read straight into her soul. Everything he had said had been true and she couldn't deny the attraction she was feeling for him. He leaned closer and smirked, having the girl under his spell, something he was long used to by now.

"How about I drive you home before any more reckless drivers pass through?" He suggested as he regrettably pulled away from her and walked over to the drivers side. "You can bring the pup, of course." He said opening the door and looking over at her.

Elena felt like she was in a trance. She thought he was going to kiss her, in fact she was begging for him to kiss her, but when he walked away it took a few seconds for his next words to register. Once they did, she turned and looked at him before walking over to the passenger's side.

"Yes, please…erm…thanks" She said awkwardly as she got the pup to get into the vintage muscle car. Elena slid in next as she felt the heat radiating off of her body, her cheeks flush.

"So where am I taking you?" He asked as he got in and started the engine. Elena gave Damon directions and beyond that, the whole car ride to her house was silent, a tension that she was sure she was imagining filling the air.

Once they arrived at her house, she got out and chuckled softly as the dog ran up the sidewalk as if he were familiar with the place. She wasn't sure what she would do with it, but could see that this dog had an attachment to her. Turning around, she shut the door and leaned into the car to thank the raven. "Thanks for the ride, Damon. Maybe I will see you around town?" She asked and smiled at him as he looked over casually.

"Yeah, maybe. I plan on sticking around for awhile." That smirk was back and it made Elena melt. "See you around, Elena." Her name had rolled off his tongue as if it belonged and she desperately hoped this wasn't the last time she would see him. She saw that he looked ahead and took that as her signal to walk to her front porch. She let the dog inside the house and was about to go in herself when she heard footsteps approaching. She turned and saw Damon quickly walking up to her.

"Damon…?" She started to ask what he was doing when he quickly grabbed her face and kissed her. The kiss wasn't just a kiss either. It was passionate and intense. Their lips synced together perfectly as she put her hands around his wrists and fingers clasping around his pulse. She felt him as he traced the seam of her lips with the tip of his tongue, unable to help the small moan that escaped her as she granted him access. Their bodies were soon flush against one another and the guttural groan that escaped his throat had her stomach in knots. He started to push her towards the door and having no objection, Elena began to pull her back with him. She had every intention of allowing him inside. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced and it was certainly a situation that Elena had never seen herself in before.

It was then that his phone went off and he groaned, pulling away. Elena couldn't see the number on the phone and looked at Damon and saw that despite the winning smirk adorning his features, there was disappointment in his eyes.

"Duty calls." Damon sighed, slipping his phone back into his pocket as he leaned in and pressed a firm kiss to Elena's lips once more. "Goodnight Elena." Damon said as he gazed into her doe eyes. He quickly forced himself to step back slowly and held her gaze for a few more moments before turning and walking off the porch and back to his car.

It wasn't until his car pulled away that Elena went inside. She was shell-shocked, unable to believe what just happened. She had just kissed a total stranger, and somehow she wanted more.


The next morning, Elena had to be up early for another shift at the hospital. She had spent the entire night thinking about the stranger she had met, practically on the outskirts of the falls. Despite having to work, she had asked Jenna to watch the puppy and was relieved that she agreed. Elena had found herself growing attached to him quickly and couldn't fathom taking him to a shelter. After Damon had left the night before, she had to drive to a twenty-four hour store to buy the puppy some food. As tired as she was now, she was used to not getting a lot of sleep.

When she arrived at work, the halls were buzzing with nurses talking about the sexy new doctor that had arrived in town. It was as if she had found herself in an episode of Grey's Anatomy. Elena knew that they would be welcoming a new doctor and with the influx in crime lately, they could certainly use it. The gossip swirling around the halls alone was enough to make Elena chuckle, wondering if everything that they were saying was true. Despite the hospital's strict policy on workplace relationships, it seemed as if no one cared that day.

Whilst pouring herself a cup of coffee, a colleague by the name of Meredith Fell approached her. "So, have you seen the new doctor yet?" She asked, a smile so wide that it made Elena's mouth hurt. "He's dreamy and he's a Salvatore" she added, excitedly. The Salvatore's were a big name in Mystic Falls, part of the founding families. The only thing she had ever heard about them was that Zach Salvatore had died about a month ago.

Elena laughed and shook her head. "No, but I know that everyone is talking about him."

Meredith nodded and looked over a clipboard she was holding. "And with good reason." She looked up, placing a pin in her coat pocket. "I gotta go. I've got a little kid with a broken arm and possible concussion. If you see him, just be sure you've got something to keep yourself steady on" she joked.

Meredith walked out, leaving Elena alone in the coffee room. Despite the lack of sleep, her shift didn't start for another ten minutes. Arriving early was a habit that she had grown accustomed to. She was leaning against the counter, not facing the doorway as her mind drifted to the previous night. The door opened and she heard the laugh that belonged to that velvety voice she familiarized herself with the night before.

Elena turned around and focused her gaze as she saw him remove a stethoscope from around his neck, not looking up. He noticed a presence in the room though and introduced himself. She was far too shocked to say anything, though luckily he beat her to it.

"Hi, I'm Damon Salvatore. I'm the new doct…" He looked up. "Elena?"


So I hope you liked this chapter. I currently have eight chapters written, including this one. They need to be heavily revised, but if you really enjoyed this introduction, please be sure to follow this story and definitely leave a review as they are super encouraging.