Takes place after the fourth book. Elena is not an angel or whatever, she moved on to live a quasi-normal life with Stefan.

"I feel ri-dic-ul-ous," The voice floated to Elena from the kitchenette of her apartment.

"You look adorable," She retorted firmly. The blonde breezed into the small kitchen to straighten her boyfriend's antlers. Stefan's eyebrows were raised as she adjusted the felt appendages jutting from the headband she'd forced on him. His smile was wry, but indulgent. Elena couldn't help but grin back, entirely unrepentant.

"You-look-fine," Elena punctuated each word with a kiss, "Now put on your nose."

Stefan stared down the red, plastic LED contraption, "Do I have to? Really?"

Elena stifled a giggle, "You said you didn't care about the costumes, so now you're Rudolph."

"Sometimes, Elena," Stefan shook his head, "I think you might be evil. Just a little bit."

"The halo says otherwise," Elena motioned to the white tinsel ring around her head, "Besides, it could be worse…"

Stefan wrapped his arms around his girlfriend's waist, shiny white polyester sliding against his fingers, "How so?"

Elena beamed as their noses touched, "I could have made you an elf."

Stefan opened his mouth to retort, but the pair was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Elena's grin turned rueful, "That would be Bonnie and Meredith. I'll get it-you go to the bathroom and put on the nose. There's spirit gum by the sink."

Stefan sighed, resigned, and Elena blew him a kiss as she flounced to the door.

"Oh, you guys are early, I ju-" Elena stopped dead when she opened the door. There, leaning casually against the frame, was Damon Salvatore. He stood in stark contrast with the white-washed world outside, clad all in black with eyes and hair shining like obsidian in the moonlight. Dark and dangerous as black ice.

"Damon." It was a greeting, an affirmation, and a question.

"Elena." It was a confirmation, a taunt, and a caress.

Impossible to be talking to him right now, Elena thought. Damon had disappeared after the confrontation with Klaus, and Elena had never gotten a chance to speak with him. Now, she had no idea where they stood.

Elena forced a polite smile, "Hey."

Of all the stupid and inadequate words…

Damon just grinned, "I like these," He reached for the fluffy wings attached to the back of Elena's dress and chuckled as his hand stopped at the door's threshold. Onyx eyes darted up to meet Lapis Lazuli, "Are you going to let me in?"

"That depends," Now Elena's smile was genuine, but not polite. She wasn't afraid of Damon anymore, but she sure as hell didn't trust him, "Can you be trusted?"

Damon's answering smile was dazzling, "Of course not."

"Well then, no dice," Elena started to close the door, but Damon's voice stopped her.

"Wait."

"What?"

"Look up."

Elena did. Mistletoe. Of course. It didn't mean anything, of course. Just a decoration. Hell, she was the one who'd put it there. She could close the door now, and there wasn't a damned thing Damon could do about it. But…

But that would be like losing. Like backing down. Or, She could settle all of this right now. Besides, it still didn't mean anything.

So, Elena stepped forward, pecked Damon on the lips-as tradition dictates-and broke away in the same second. No need for this to be drawn out any longer than necessary; she was only proving a point, after all.

Now she regarded Damon happily, not bothering to gauge his expression, "It meant nothing, because I felt nothing."

And with that, she turned toward the safety of her apartment. Then, just as she was taking that crucial step through the doorway, a hand wound itself around her wings and twirled her sharply around.

Strong arms supported Elena as a face nuzzled itself against her neck. She could feel the smirk against her skin, "You didn't really think you'd get off that easy, did you?"