Story set when Stefan is off with Klaus Elena is still human and Damon is the only one there for her! But there is also a possibility that characters who are supposed to come in later are already there, but if you've seen all the episodes and you known who the characters are it will make sense...i hope :) it's just an epic love story guys, who really cares what order everything else is in? None of this belongs to me... We must thank L. and the CW for making the world a better place :-) Sorry if grammar, spelling or punctuation is wrong, sorry if it doesn't make sense. This is the first time I've ever written anything and the first chapter is purely to set the scene taken directly from an episode of the vampire diaries, I own nothing.

Chapter1. Letting Go

"How did this happen?" Elena struggled to understand, seeing his anger. The lean vampire spat out his words, his eyes dark and furious. "We thought of everything, Elena!" Yelling in frustration, Damon replayed the events of that evening. "Klaus having hybrids! Michael turning on us! We brought in Katherine so you weren't in danger! Anything that could have gone wrong, we were prepared for!"

Pacing round the living room, the fire was blazing and as Damon kept consuming glasses of bourbon, his annoyance for his brother grew stronger. His left fist was clenched tight and his knuckles were white. The other hand was preoccupied with the tumbler, at the moment it was the only thing keeping him steady.

Then he caught a glimpse of her, just for a second, there she stood, right in front of him. Her arms were folded, slightly protective and conserved. God she was beautiful and she didn't even know it. Although his pulse got faster, the sight of her seemed to relax him slightly. She spoke,

"I don't understand. Stefan wanted Klaus dead, more than anything." Elena let out an exhausted breath as she tried to defend Stefan once more. "That's what we were counting on!" There was hesitation in her voice, she realises in that moment that maybe he was a lost cause, she never wanted this, and especially for Damon's sake but she can't turn a blind eye on the truth. They had tried so many times to pull him out of the darkness, maybe this was the last time.

They both stood there in silence for a while, slight tears in Elena's eyes, Damon was breathing hard. The fire flickered and lit up their faces. He looks at her and in defeat he simply says, "We blew it."

Avoiding the subject of Stefan for as long as possible Elena inquires with a held breath, "Where's Katherine?" This didn't seem to please Damon anymore than the subject of his brother.

Yet again he replied in a harsh tone. "She ran for the hills, like usual, the minute things got bad and who blames her! Klaus would have crushed her." He continued whilst taking strides closer to Elena this time in a softer voice he said, "I had him, Elena. I had Klaus! "He did not speak with defeat or annoyance this time but sadness, as though he had disappointed someone he loved. Now only two feet away form each other his anger rose again, "This could have all been over!" He yelled at the same time as throwing the whiskey bottle at the fire, as it shattered the flames began to hiss and spit as they turned blue and green. The girl standing next to him took a sharp intake of breath as the crash startled her. Her mouth gaped open for a while. You never know with Damon, she smiled to herself as she remembered that used to scare her, not anymore though. No. Now she realised it was all part of his charm. A fatal attraction, she was definitely drawn to him, it's just Stefan... Damon's eyes lingered a while over her facial expressions, how could she not know? He thought to himself. Her lips, he just wanted them to be on his, and among other things.

"Hey!" Elena grabbed his arm, cutting herself off from her thoughts. She said it again when he did not respond, but this time it was firm and controlled, not annoyed but caring. She does cares for him, she thought. Was this a revelation or something she had known all along? "Hey, listen to me." Firmly but not forcefully she maintained his gaze and held his face gently between her two delicate hands. As she did this his eyes became bright and the flames next to them retreated to their previous, soothing colours and lights. She made everything better, Damon thought to himself. Hairs on his arms prickled at her touch.

"We'll survive this." and then she whispered as their foreheads touched, staring deeply into his eyes..."We always survive." As they parted slightly, feeling each others breaths on one another's lips, Elena said, "Trust me." She pleaded with Damon to have hope. Anyone looking on would have seen this to be much more than friendship, why couldn't they? Or to be more exact why couldn't they move past it?

The bitter and defeated thought was burning on the edge of his tongue, Stefan was his only brother, he loves him. Unwillingly Damon said, not wanting to face the truth of losing the only friendly face he'd known throughout his 150 year life time. "You know we're never getting Stefan back. You know that, don't you?" They both knew it, he means a lot to both of them but face to face now, Elena's lips was quivering, she had decided. She loved Stefan and Damon but just in this moment she had not realised how much more Damon meant to her, she loves him with every ounce of her heart and before when she had always chosen Stefan, she had been blind. Perhaps over how 'safe' an option Stefan was, Damon was either going to be the best or worst thing for her. What's funny is that she didn't care which. Damon was good, there was more to him, she knew, than what he let people believe. The extent, to which he would go to save his brother, for her as well, was beautiful to watch, it was a true bond. But Stefan may have destroyed that, she was not dumb or ignorant. Elena could see that the man she loved was going to need help. Yes, the man she loved, excitement tour at her, this idea filled her with happiness. In reply to what Damon said, Elena said, holding him tightly "I know; we'll have to let him go. Ok? We'll have to let him go." Damon's eyes were wet and his and Elena's lips were so close. So close, they could have been sharing the air, not that either of them would've minded.

Damon's thoughts were flying, had she chosen me? Elena saw his confusion..."What's wrong?" she asked.

"What happened to...I mean you said...It's always gonna be Stefan?" Damon asked, intrigued by what she would say, but also so anxious at the thought that this might be the moment she viscously ripped out his heart and stomped on it. He silently laughed to himself as the mental picture of the delicate Elena popped into his head doing just what he described. Oh great he thought, now she has a baseball bat...no, focus Damon!

"I guess I was wrong..." Silence. The two figures simple stared at each other, their hips moved slightly closer, each of their lips slightly parted, but then...

"Elena? I'm off, you coming?" Jeremy called to her from the foyer.

Awkwardly they broke apart, sniffing and trying to release the tension.

"Uhh, no thanks Jer, I'll...ummm...catch you up later."

"Ok, bye 'Lena!"

Thank god he hadn't walked in. Elena started to walk away from Damon without a second glance toward the direction of her car to go home but then she just stopped. Damon looked as she did this.

"Actually, Damon?"

"Yeh."

"Do you mind if I stay here tonight, after everything, I'm not up to driving and I'm tired, I'll just sleep on the couch? I won't bother you, I promise."

Damon started with, "Elena, you are always welcome here, just as long as you sleep in a bed and not on the couch and if you don't attempt to stake me in my sleep, you'll be fine." He finished with the most menacing and gorgeous, sexiest smile she had ever seen. Elena was quite proud of herself that her knees only wobbled slightly, for a look like that could kill.

She smiled at him gratefully, "Thank you Damon." Just as she was about to turn around, "Ummm, urr...could I borrow something to sleep in?" She asked, one hand on her hip, the other scratching her forehead, and her eyes were cast down embarrassed she had to ask." It's just I don't have any clothes here and I'm filthy. She smiled a playful smile and Damon grinned and nodded in return. "You can find something in my room. You're welcome to use the shower as well." She looked at him directly this time and thanked him.