Authors notes:

This story takes place after episode 2x9 Katerine, therefore note I do not own TVD or its characters.

Its about the love between Damon and Elena and the lengths he is willing to go to protect her.

A love story in the making.

Three is a crowd

Chapter 1:

Elena's POV

"Another shot bartender" I spat out as I looked at the shot glasses that were piled up in front of me.

"Elena" Matt said looking worried at me, sweet old Matt who I could always count on.

"I am more than fine Matt, I am perfect" I laughed.

"You don't look fine Elena" Matt tried and I felt the anger build up inside me.

"No I am serious Elena who lost her parents " I said and knew it was uncalled for, Matt was just trying to help me, but I could never tell him the truth.

"What's with you Elena" Matt asked and I wished more than ever that I would be able to tell him everything.

"Just leave me alone Matt"

"Now don't be so dramatic Elena" someone said and I knew without turning around who it would be.

"Damon, just the person I did not want to see" I said and took yet another shot of tequila.

"I'll take her home" Damon said and sent Matt on his way.

"Your not taking me anywhere" I said and looked at him "I don't want you help".

"I know Elena, you hate me, I am the reason for all evil in the world and blah blah, and not that I'm not enjoying this little attempt of teenage rebel act your trying to pull, then it is time to go home".

"Damon you can't tell me what to do" I tried, but I knew he was right, I had fooled myself into believing I could be free from all of my worries for one night, but they were still there like shadows over my head.

"I can't do this Damon" I said and tried to stand on my feet, realizing that the last shot had really thrown me of balance.

"Come here boozy" Damon said and had a firm grip around me.

How I ended up in my bed I don't remember, but I remembered Damon sitting there moving my hair away from my face stroking my cheek.

I still felt the shivers all over my body whenever Damon showed me this side of him, and I tried as usually to block them out.

"I remember Damon, everything you said I remember" I mumbled, knowing I had said to much.

"What do you mean Elena?" he asked and I felt how I drifted away.

When I woke up Damon was sitting by the window looking outside, there was something about him that always made me doubt the hate I felt towards him.

"Go away Damon" I said and turned over.

"I wish I could, but I promised your boyfriend that I would be on Elena duty this morning" he said.

"I don't need a babysitter" I said and realized just how much my head was spinning.

"The curse of the tequila" he said and smirked.

"And you would know how? Your dead" I said and got out of bed.

"That sounded almost like an insult" Damon said and smiled.

"Just go away, I'll be fine" I said and headed for the bathroom.

"Perfect, then I can go and meet our own little Stefan and make plans on how to keep you safe princess" he said, reeking of sarcasm.

"I don't need you to protect me"

"Of course not, the oldest vampire is looking for you planning to sacrifice you, I see how your not needing protection" he said and I felt my heart drop and I hurried into the bathroom.

I knew I was in danger, and I knew everyone I loved was in danger because of my curse of looking like Katherine.

When I came back from the bathroom Damon had taken off and I felt relieved, I knew that I should hate him with every fibre in my body, but I didn't and my excuses about feeling sorry for him didn't entirely measure up to the feelings I had either.

I knew I couldn't ever afford to explore my feelings, and I didn't want to, I love Stefan and he was just what I needed.

Katherine had torn them apart and I would be damned before I ever did anything like it. When it came down to it Stefan and Damon cared for each other and needed each other.

"I love you Elena… And its because I love you, I can't be selfish with you" I still heard his words over and over again in my head and they had changed everything.

I had seen a side to Damon I had never seen before, somewhere I knew he cared for me, but him saying it made it real and I wasn't ready for that.

I knew I broken his heart every day I was with Stefan, and he still had the urge to save my life and protect me, and I didn't deserve it.

"Elena?" I heard Bonnie calling from downstairs and I rushed down to see her, she saved me from torturing myself with thoughts of Damon.

"What's up Bonnie?" I said and put on the best smile I could master.

"I could ask you the same question, I just ran into Matt, he told me he found you at the grill yesterday drunk. And as if that wasn't bad enough he saw you leave with Damon" she said and gave me her blaming look that I knew she only gave me because she cared about me.

"I know Bonnie, I just needed some time off, and believe me I regret it so bad right now" I said and headed for the kitchen.

"And the whole thing with Damon?" she asked, I guess I couldn't get out of that one.

"He just helped me get home, nothing more" I said and it wasn't a lie.

"He is bad news Elena" Bonnie said and kept staring at me.

"I know Bonnie, but as hard as I try I can't hate him" I said and was surprised by my confession.

"He killed Jeremy" she spat out.

"I know and I hated him for that, but Katherine messed with his head and he has really changed Bonnie" I said and I knew I was entering troubled water.

"You don't tell me that you actually fell something for that monster?"

"I don't feel something, I just understand him. And to be fair he has changed and he really came trough for me when I was abducted" I said only lying a little bit.

Damon's POV

"Is Elena okay?" Stefan asked as I entered the living room.

"Lets see, she just found out that and psycho vampire wants to kill her and everyone she loves is in danger, I think she is doing just peachy little brother" I said and poured myself a glass of Scotch.

"Here's a crazy though, why don't you go and see her, and then you can declare you undying love and promise to always keep her safe, that would maybe cheer her up" I said and rolled my eyes.

"Aren't you funny? I know you care for her too, and we need to find a way to protect her" he said and gave me his broody hero look.

"Can we plan this hero act later, I need to feed" I said and walked away, I wanted more than anything to save Elena, but Stefan would kill me before agreeing to my plan.

I hated having to do it, but it was the only thing that would maybe help me save Elena.

"Rise and shine" I yelled into the darkness and as she stumbled out of the darkness I felt my heart skip another beat, this time not because of love, but because of hate.

"Well isn't this my lucky week, all those visitors" she said and looked at me with her manipulating look she was so good at.

"Trust me it isn't a social visit" I spat out.

"Well I figured seeing you probably still are a bit pissed about me loving Stefan over you" She said and I knew her game, but I wouldn't let her do that to me again.

"I here to make a deal" I said and looked at her.

"What makes you think I would ever agree to anything you have to suggest"

"Because it would mean your survival"

"I kind of doubt that, but go on" she said.

"I know you want to save Elena" I challenged her.

"And what makes you think that?"

"She's your blood"

"Are you applying that I am capable of feeling something?" she laughed.

"I know you do, or else you would have killed her"

"Well I tried to kill her aunt, so long shot of me feeling something for your girlfriend, or wait Stefan's girlfriend" she said knowing exactly what buttons she was pushing.

"And add that detail that I was ready to sacrifice her to gain my own freedom" she continued.

"I don't believe that for a second, there is something you aren't telling us, and you knew we would have to come her and beg for your help, you always have a plan b don't you" I said feeling the hate for her grow even more.

"As I told Elena then better her than me" Katherine smirked.

"Do you think I am that dumb Katherine, you honestly want me to believe that you believed that Klaus would just forgive you if you handed over Elena?" I said knowing she was hiding something.

"A girl's got to got to dream, right," she said.

"There is something you're hiding, and if I was you I would start talking" I said growing very impatient.

"What's in it for me Damon? A stake through my heart when you gotten what you want?"

"I guess that's just a chance you would have to take, and I believe that's something your willing to do seeing Elena is the only thing connecting you to your humanity" I said and went for the tomb door.

"Wait"

"I know how to save her, but I need assurance" she said and I knew I would have to play on her terms as well.