Heard a quote in a series that inspired this story.
"If you were him, what would you do?"
"I'd kill us both."
So hope you enjoy. Review and let me know if I should continue!
Disclaimer: Don't own the characters!
Elena finished the last of the dishes, and was drying her hands as the phone rang.
"Do you have a moment?" Stefan asked from the other end.
He must be at the office still, "Yeah, what's up?"
"Damon called. His plane comes in tomorrow. We are to pick him up."
Her eyebrow raised, "I thought he was deployed to Afganistan?"
"He finished his term. They are giving him leave until his next orders," Stefan explained.
She sighed, moving to wipe off the counter, "That's good then. I know how much you've missed him."
Stefan gave a chuckle, "My brother lacks many things, but entertainment is not among them."
Elena laughed, "So I remember. Wasn't he the one who included "You're gonna need all the luck you can get" in his best man speech? After trying to sleep his way through my bridesmaids?"
Stefan grew serious, "But he was different then...the military changed him."
"Maybe...How long is he staying here?" She asked, switching the phone to her other ear.
Stefan considered, "Not sure what his plan is...just that he wanted me to pick him up when his plane lands."
"Alright."
He paused before asking, "You're okay with it aren't you?"
She swallowed, "Of course."
She could hear him smile, "Okay, thought I'd tell you. I have to go back to work now, so I'll see you later?"
"Okay," she held the phone after he hung up. It was the first time he'd talked to her all day.
Elena sighed, thinking.
So Damon was coming back. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. She'd met Stefan in college a few years ago, and they'd been married shortly after graduation. His parents had accepted her immediately, but it was his brother that held her attention.
It had been hard for her, at first, to put Damon into perspective. He'd seemed to be an average playboy filled with sarcasm and selfishness, but as the time wore on, she'd come to see the good in him. Even though he was rude, and flirty, he had a good heart. She even considered him a friend.
Then that Christmas had happened. She and Stefan had been engaged for a few months and the Salvatore's had invited her to their home for the holiday. It had been fun, even if slightly elaborate. Then afterwards she'd helped Stefan's mom take the dishes into the kitchen. On the last handful, she'd lingered, taking a breath, before moving to step out. Just as Damon had come in.
Elena had never planned for things to happen like they did. But they'd been caught, holding each others gazes under the mistle-toe.
"Damon..." She froze.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't know you were-"
"It's fine," she insisted, trying to side step him.
He did the same and they ended up in each others paths again.
He chuckled, "Here."
He stepped aside, in the doorway, and she stepped forward to pass him.
"Elena, wait," he grabbed her arm.
She paused, looking up at him.
"It's mistle-toe," he pointed up, and her eyes followed. Sure enough, it was.
Her hands flew to his shoulders as he leaned down, restraining him.
"Damon, don't. I can't..."
"But I can. Now, tell me you don't want me to. That your eyes haven't been on me all night."
She blushed, and he sighed, "That's what I thought."
Then he'd scooped her into his arms, and pressed his lips on hers.
She'd frozen, then her hands slipped, holding the back of his neck as the kiss deepened. And she was kissing him back.
He pulled away after a moment, his eyes bright. She was breathless.
Kissing Stefan never felt like that.
"Elena," he sighed, leaning his head against hers, his eyes closing.
Tears formed in hers as she stepped away, "I...I'm sorry."
She'd fled after the kiss, guilt swarming her stomach, and clung to Stefan's side for the rest of the night. But she still couldn't stop her glances from lingering on those blue eyes.
Damon had tried to talk to her, several times, afterwards, until she finally told him that it was a mistake, never to repeated, and they should forget it.
He'd joined the Marines shortly after, and had served two terms since.
He'd come home twice, attending the wedding as Stefan's best man, and had acted exactly as she'd told him, as though it hadn't happened. She'd been relieved, and they'd parted as friends again. But he hadn't come home since, three years...and she wondered if he was really as unfazed as he'd pretended.
She blinked away the memory, moving instead to grab the laundry before heading out to meet Caroline and Bonnie in town.
"There you are!" Caroline squealed when Elena walked over to the table she and Bonnie already occupied.
"Sorry," she smiled, sitting down.
Caroline waved it off, "You're fine, we ordered for you."
"Thanks," she countered.
"So you were saying?" Bonnie turned the conversation back to their previous topic.
"Oh, right! Just that it isn't fair when all of these big named labels come in and take over, acting like they know everything about your business. Like, Hello? Did you work your ass off trying to build it up? Did you put in hours after hours of work, trying to keep it afloat? No, don't think so. So they should just back off."
Bonnie chuckled, "Some name brand company is trying to change her store," she explained to Elena.
"Can they do that?" She questioned, and Caroline huffed.
"Aparently they can try! But enough about my drama, what's been up with you? How's the perfect couple been?"
Elena sighed, "Okay I guess."
Bonnie glanced at her, "Is something wrong?"
Elena looked at her friends before exhaling, "I don't know. Stefan's been distancy lately, working a lot. I've barely talked to him in the past few weeks, and each time I do get to, it's never about anything personal."
Bonnie gave her a comforting smile, "I'm sure he's just been busy."
Elena nodded, "Yeah, probably."
"When's the last time you had sex?" Caroline asked.
"Caroline!" Bonnie scolded as Elena blushed.
"What?" the blond deffended, "It's important."
She turned back to Elena, "So...?"
"It's been a while," Elena admitted, "He comes in late a lot, I'm usually already asleep."
Caroline sighed, "That kinda sucks."
"And none of your business," Bonnie rolled her eyes.
"Hey, I was just asking," Caroline raised her hands.
"It's fine," Elena made peace, "Really, but it's not important."
"If you say so," Caroline shrugged, taking a bite of her salad.
Elena hesitated a moment, before adding, "Damon's coming home."
Both of her friends shot a look at her.
"When?" Caroline asked.
"Tomorrow. Stefan and I are picking him up from the airport."
"Is he staying with you?" Caroline asked.
"I think," Elena answered, then seeing Caroline's gaze, added, "But that doesn't mean anything."
The blond scoffed, "Sure it doesn't. I think we've established that Damon, and your self-control, do not play well together."
"Caroline!" Bonnie scolded again, "That wasn't neccessary."
Caroline sighed, "Okay, I'm sorry. But given what happend last time, you need to be careful, Lena."
Elena nodded, "We all change Caroline. And Stefan and I are married now. Damon behaved last time."
Her friend shrugged, "Yeah, but still, I wouldn't be too quick to trust him."
Bonnie shot her a look before turning to Elena, "I'm sure it will be fine."
Elena smiled at her, "Yeah, I know. He might not even be staying with us. He could be staying with their parents. I just thought I'd tell you guys so you didn't yell at me when you see him around town."
Caroline chuckled, "I so would have."
"Oh I know."
The girls finished their lunch, and were soon paying the bill to leave.
"I'll see you guys later," Elena told them, "I'm meeting up with Mary to discuss the next councel meeting."
Caroline smiled, "Okay, have fun with mommydearest."
Elena rolled her eyes as she waved goodbye, getting in her car.
She liked Mary Salvatore, she really did. She was like the mother she'd been missing, as both of her parents had died in a carcrash her junior year. The woman favored her eldest a lot, dark hair, startling blue eyes, and delicate bone structures. She was a beautiful, kind person, and Elena wasn't the only one in the town that held high respect for her.
The Salvatore mansion was as marvelous as ever when she pulled up. Her mother-in-law was waiting for her in the parlor.
"Elena, sweetheart, glad you made it."
"You look busy," Elena commented, noticing all of the design books and pattern sheet sprawled around the coffee table.
Mary shrugged it off, standing to hug her, "Just minor details. We are putting together a fundraiser for the restoration of the library."
"Trouble coming up with a theme for the party?" Elena asked, sitting beside her.
Mary nodded, "We've already had the formal dinner, we could have a dance, but the winter ball sort of throws out the necessity."
Elena considered this, "Halloween's coming up soon...what about a costumed theme?"
Mary thought over that, "Not bad, but a little cliche I think."
"Okay, then what about a masquerade?" Elena offered, "It fits a Halloween theme, but isn't overdone by being random costumes."
Mary glanced at her, "That could actually work. A masquerade ball. I'm sure the Mikaelson's wouldn't mind hosting it. Or I could talk to Giuseppe, maybe even have it here."
She smiled at Elena, "Thank you. I'll run it by Carol Lockwood, but I think it will be perfect."
"No problem," Elena shrugged, then added, "So I'm assuming you heard the news..."
"About Damon?" Mary asked, and Elena noddded.
"Stefan called earlier and told us," she smiled, "It'll be good to have him back, wont it?"
Elena sighed, looking back down at the papers.
"Yes...I'm sure it will."