Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction so I'm still testing the waters and suggestions are requested. I have checked these chapters for errors about four times each but there still may be mistakes and for that I apologize. I do ask for patience with updates. I'm a full time student, I work two jobs, and I am currently engrossed in a new MMO and helping my boyfriend of 5 years move into a new apartment to start a job so I will be doing my best to update the story. I don't have an exact story line prepared so if you have ideas that spark an interest feel free to toss them to me.

I do NOT own the rights to The Vampire Diaries

Chapter/Story Notes: This story picks up at the end of season 3 episode 8 and the beginning dialogue is from the episode with some twists at the end. I hope you enjoy my story!

Chapter 1: Realization

Elena's POV

"Ugh, Damon. Seriously?" I said with an exhausted voice.

Damon smirks from his position on my bed, lying back on my pillows with his hands behind his head. Looking way too good for the exhausted girl I am. "We got Mikael."

"What? How?" I am now interested in what he has to say.

"No idea, but I guess Katherine came through. The plan is in motion. See, I told you I had it." He was wide-eyed and I was distracted by how beautiful his blue eyes were. "Go ahead, kick…yell…scream. I'm sure you've been planning your rant all day."

"I'm not going to yell at you."

"Why not? I went behind your back, I freed Stefan, and you know what? It backfired. He's an even bigger dick than ever. It's just now…he's a dick that's on our side."

"I'm not mad, I'm tired. I just want to go to bed." I say as I yank at my covers, hoping he'll get the hint and move. Instead he seems determined to stay exactly where he's placed himself.

"You know, I think Mikael's weapon is a stake because he mentioned something about it," he mentions quietly to himself.

"Well then they must have carved it from the white oak before they burned it down," I say as I yank my covers some more and he still refuses to budge.

"So, I was right," Damon smirked. I gave up and just crawled under what covers were accessible. "After all of that…the wall led us to Mikael."

"It led us to more than just that. I think I got Rebekah on our side too," I said as I settled in my bed, looking at the ceiling, and contemplating everything that Rebekah found out today.

He seemed pretty interested with this new information. "Really? What did you learn from her?"

"I learned that she's just a girl. That…she lost her mom too young and she loves blindly and recklessly, even if it consumes her." I could relate to this and I knew the recognition was flashing across my face so I tried to conceal my expression. I turned to face him and I saw his brows furrow at that thought. "Kind of like me," I whispered as I looked up into his eyes. It was so easy to get lost in those eyes. "When it's all said and done, there's nothing more important than the bond of family," I finished, changing the subject.

He gives a small smile and sighs. "You should tell that to my brother."

I gave him a small smile before I grew more serious.

"I'm not mad at you for letting him out Damon," I said as I leaned over to turn off the light and turn back to him. "I think you're going to be the one to save him from himself. It won't be because he loves me. It'll be because he loves you."

He looked into my eyes and I could tell he was processing what I just said. "Can I tell you the rest tomorrow?" I asked him, finally feeling myself falling asleep after such a long day.

"Sure," he whispered softly with a small smile.

Before succumbing to sleep I reached for his hand to hold it in mine. "Stay with me tonight, Damon. I don't want to be alone," If he responded, I didn't hear it because I fell into my first peaceful sleep in weeks.