Love, he decided, was an odd word. How could those four letters sum up something so difficult, so complex yet be understood everywhere as something beautiful and devastating?
They were the most difficult four letters to speak and his hand shook every time he wrote them. Even the thought of the word sent an icy cold shot to his mind but a warmth to his heart. It was the oddest sensation.
Suddenly, no-one could tell him what to think or what to do because there was only her. She held him to the ground every day and she stopped him turning back in to the monstrous, terrifying animal he was before. Yes, there were times when he'd slip back into his old self but, as always, she was there to take him in her arms, to soothe him with her words, to cry with him and to accept him for who and what he was. She would never criticize.
It was at this point that Damon Salvatore realized just how much he was 'head-over-heels' in love with Elena Gilbert and it was too late to be pulled back out of it. The shock of this sudden realization sent him reeling and he had to sit down in a chair.
He smiled. That smile turned into a laugh and soon he was laughing harder than he had in his (un-)life.
It was at this point that Stefan decided to walk in.
"What," Stefan said. "may I ask, is so funny?"
Damon calmed his laughter and breathing and studied Stefan . His hair was slightly dishevelled, his dark shirt had a slight mud stain on it and he had an aroma of musk, grass and the reek of skunk clung to him like death. He'd been hunting. Take that Sherlock Holmes!
"Nothing," Damon replied with a smirk. "is wrong. Absolutely nothing. In fact, everything is right. I have just this moment realized what it is wrong with my life and just like that," he clicked his fingers to emphasize his point. "everything has become that little bit clearer. I just want you to know that, even though we may be siblings, even though we share certain types of DNA, it does not mean I have to care for your feelings and I will not hesitate in taking what is yours as mine." Damon was standing toe-to-toe with Stefan now. Stefan was stood still looking Damon in the eye.
"Damon, I don't want to play your games. We're both too old and we've been at odds with each other for too long now for this…"
"Oh, don't worry little brother," Damon said, downing some whisky and walking out the door. "the love games are just beginning…"