Disclaimer: All material (except the last lines), characters etc. belongs to the CW.

Hey, just an idea I've had floating around in my head for a while, thought I'd finally get it written. Hope you enjoy.

Damon's POV

I opened the door of Elena's house, and who else but the girl herself – who had occupied my thoughts for most of the day – would choose that moment to walk up the stairs towards me. Her arms were laden with her Founder's Day gown, along with all her other belongings.

"What are you doing here?" She asked me, a look of slight confusion in her eyes. Maybe she thought I'd be recuperating from my latest near-death experience; the death that would actually kill me, I mean.

I closed the door behind me. "Failed and feeble attempt at doing the right thing," I replied. It surprised me how much I'd changed. As if the fact that I'd actually tried to do the right thing wasn't shocking enough, I was now admitting that I'd failed in doing it.

"Which was..?" Her eyes tightened in, as if she were afraid of my answer, having just come from her home.

I walked forward so she could see that there was nothing menacing in my features. "It doesn't matter," I told her shaking my head slightly. "Let me take those for you," I said quietly.

Taking her things from her arms I moved and set them down on the bench to my left. I heard her footsteps as she followed behind me. "Thank you," she said.

I half turned towards her as I spoke; something about her presence was compelling me to be honest with her. "You know I came to this town wanting to destroy it, tonight I...found myself wanting to protect it. How's that happened?" I asked, my eyebrows pulling together. I wasn't sure why I was seeking an answer from her – there was no need to; she was the answer. It still didn't solve anything though.

"I'm not a hero, Elena," I told her, "I don't do 'good.' It's not in me." I thought it best to warn her now, admit what I was; though it's not like she didn't already know. But I wanted her to be prepared. I wasn't sure whether this change was permanent.

"Maybe it is," she said. I got a slight impression that she hoped that was true. Maybe that hope was her only reason for caring; especially after everything I've done to her.

"No," I said quietly, knowing there would always be some darkness inside of me. "No, that's reserved for my brother...and you, and Bonnie. Even though she has every reason to hate me, still helped Stefan save me..." I tried not to think about the flames, how close it had really been.

"Why do you sound so surprised?" Her question confused me a little, but I answered nevertheless.

I took a few steps closer towards her. "'Cause she did it for you," I stated, "Which means that somewhere along the way, you decided I was worth saving. And I wanted to thank you, for that." It felt strange to say these words – even to Elena.

"You're welcome," she told me honestly.

Words didn't seem enough. I leant forward and placed a kiss upon her cheek, probably lingering for longer than I should have. The proximity became too much.

I found it hard to look away from her lips, and the only movement my eyes made was moving upwards to meet hers; deep down we both knew this had been coming. I wanted her confirmation that this was okay, that I wasn't going too far. I saw no hint of hesitation in her eyes. They were doing the exact same thing as mine.

I kissed her softly, slowly, at first, waiting for her to respond before deepening it. She tilted forwards, stretching up into the kiss. My left hand held her hair back, resting on her neck, caressing her jaw line, whilst my right wound round her waist. She seemed to melt in my arms as our tongues danced together, her hands clenching onto my shirt collar to hold herself against me.

I pushed her up against the wall of the house. I was gentle though, holding something I actually deemed precious in my arms was more than enough incentive to be careful.

Her arms snaked up around my neck, her fingers threading through my hair. I could feel the hammer of her pulse through her wrists where they rested behind my ears. Every line of her body was pressed against mine, her body heat reaching through to my core – only she was much better than caffeine.

She broke off, panting. I rested my head against the wall, just above her shoulder. The smell of her skin was intoxicating, her hormones adding a new flavour to the mix. I was attracted to it for different reasons though, and I had absolutely no desire for her blood right now.

I felt her body separate from mine, and I moved back, just far enough so that she wasn't touching me or the wall, but there were still only mere inches between us.

"Don't tell Stefan," she whispered, so quietly that someone without my hearing wouldn't have been able to comprehend what she said. She wasn't looking at me, but from what I could see of her features, her face was guilt ridden.

She sidestepped out from in front of me then opened the door quietly and stepped inside; leaving me stood dumbstruck, staring at the place where she'd just been stood. I know these feeling's, I thought; at least this time I know they're real.

"Isobel was right," I said to myself. I was in love with Elena... And, despite what just happened, she's still in love with Stefan.

Perfect, I thought as I turned and began to walk down the steps. I risked a look back to the house from over my shoulder; revealing Elena stood in the doorway, a look of bewilderment on her face. I never heard the door close, I realised. She heard.