A/N So, honestly, I had the hardest time ever with this chapter. I don't know why, but I seem to have had so many conflicting ideas for this update. Anyway, after much deliberation, this is the version I'm happiest with. Without further ado, and because I feel bad having made you all wait, I give you Chapter 2!

Remember to leave me some feedback - most thought-provoking review gets a special surprise and the power to heavily influence the events of the next chapter. Who doesn't want that?


EPOV

Clearly, a human tastes vastly different from a deer.

There's a certain sense of richness to the blood, a subtle note of vitality and power that just can't be missed. And yet, even if my world has been temporarily reduced to the life I'm presently consuming, I find myself completely unafraid. Though my prey has changed, I sense no inner fear. I know I will get past this.

More than that, I also know he's there, and while he is, nothing bad will happen. I understand this crucial fact not because of logic or some well-proven theory, but out of a deep-seated feeling in my gut. My entire being seems to know that while Damon holds my hand, no tragedy will befall this brief and stolen moment in the darkness.

True to such expectations, he is the voice of reason and restraint, pulling me away with the gentlest of touches. "Enough," he says, his tone firm but in no way condescending. "Come on, Elena."

At that, I resist for a moment, feeling a little defensive. After all, some part of me says that Damon is intruding, trying to separate me from my deliciously-caught quarry. Despite such instincts, the remaining part knows that it's Damon.

It's Damon and I promised to listen to him. As expected, I find that the knowing part wins out, so I pull away. Damon takes care of the rest of the process, before he turns to me. Ever so gently, he wipes a stray drip of blood from my lips. Even though I can see the arousal in his eyes from the spectacle, his voice is that of a friend, maybe even that of a proud parent.

"You did it," he says, and I rejoice on the inside. "You should know, I'm very proud of you."

Once he says that, my legs give out and I sink into the comfort of his embrace. I whisper a quick thank you against his chest, feeling him press a comforting kiss to the top of my head.


DPOV

As soon as we walk into the boarding house hand-in-hand, Stefan tries to rush forward and check on Elena. I do know that it's childish, but I'm gloating at the fact that she clearly doesn't want him.

"I'm fine, Stefan," she says, dismissing his fussy attention. "I just need some time to think." To my delight, he looks appropriately stunned. Like some pre-rehearsed moment, he turns to me and spouts his usual question.

"What did you do, Damon?"

He always asks it without fail, as if everything shocking in the world is somehow my doing. I finally decide that I've had enough of his righteous bullshit. "I taught her to feed properly, Stefan, that's what I did. Sorry, but I fucking taught her how to be a real vampire." I scoff at him, fully intending to make him feel like an unwanted brat. "Now if you'll excuse us, Elena needs some time to think while I need a glass of bourbon, so shut your mouth."

Right on cue, he disobeys me and explodes. Fucking idiot.

"Are you crazy?" he asks, and I scoff again. "She could've killed someone!"

"Oh, just shut up, will you?" I turn to Elena, intending to use her to get him quiet. "Answer me this, Gilbert. Did you kill someone?"

"No." I observe her while she answers, smiling. She looks proud of her achievement, as she well should be. With her reaffirmation out of the way, I return my indignation to Stefan.

"See?" I say, more than a little annoyed. "She didn't kill anyone, so ease the fuck up with your righteous tirade and let me have my bourbon."

I'm halfway done with my walk to the liquor cabinet when I feel him restrain my arm. Oh, no he didn't.

Turning to face him at vampire speed, I shrug his arm off and back him into the wall.

"What the hell is your problem?" I ask. "Can't you get my request through that thick head of yours, or are you secretly jealous that her achievement was under my watch?"

I hear Stefan growl, knowing the jealousy bit was a low blow. Gripping his neck like a vise, I continue.

"So what is it, little bro? I bet you're jealous. You taught her how to hunt fucking Bambi. I taught her how to hunt properly. Tack that up on your nonexistent Damon vs. Stefan cork board."

I can sense he wants to retaliate, but is unable to do so on account of his still-inferior strength. A second later, I begin to laugh at his futile struggles, until I feel Elena's hand on my shoulder. Her touch is gentle, relaxing me instantly.

"Damon, stop, okay?" When I loosen my grip, she surprises me, lowering her hand to stroke my arm. My relaxation turns into rather mild excitement. "Calm down, okay? We still need to talk, remember? We had a deal."

"What deal?" When is this idiot gonna stop butting in when he's clearly not wanted?

"Steffie," I say, using my most nanny-like voice. "Didn't I teach you not to interrupt when grownups are talking?"

I hear Elena sigh at my sarcasm. "The deal isn't about you, Stefan. Damon and I need to talk, and you don't need to be there."

I know it's wrong, but her putting Stefan down just got my engine revving. Fuck.

"Elena, I think that's not..." Didn't she just say shut up, more or less? Stefan's idiocy is astounding at this moment.

Finally, she totally puts her foot down. I gotta say, I'm liking Vampire Elena more and more now. "I said you don't need to be there, Stefan. The talk is between Damon and me, so it clearly has nothing to do with you. Please respect that."

Ooh, she just pulled out the Respect My Free Will card. Take that, bitch. Can't resist now, can you? You can? Yes? No? Didn't think so.

As I expect, Stefan acquiesces to her request. "Alright," he finally says. "Just please be careful." His warning causes me to shake my head. It's not like I'll fucking murder her, for God's sake.

"Oh God, finally!" I quip, looking appropriately ecstatic that he's leaving. Smiling, I tell him, "Thank you for bowing out, dearest brother, now go the fuck away please and let me talk with Elena."

Mercifully, he follows my directions, even if he does it with a scowl on his permanently-brooding face.

I give him a Go-To-Your-Room-Young-Man smile, as if to say, "Go ahead, Stef. Scowl all you want and see if I give a fuck."


EPOV

As soon as we're alone, Damon asks me the same question as before. This time I'm unable to hide behind the pretense of hunger. My bloodlust and my baser desires are sated, my mind painfully aware of every single word coming out of his mouth.

"So now you know we met first," he says. "What are you gonna do with that, Elena?"

Since I don't know the answer, I put the ball in his court. "What do you expect me to do with it?"

He plops down on the nearby armchair. "To be honest? Nothing. I did that because I really couldn't have anyone knowing I was in town. That little bout of compulsion was the self-serving version of me at its best." He smirks. "Damon the Dick at your service, ma'am."

I shrug at his sarcastic remark, trying to copy his nonchalance. "Fine," I say, "I'll forgive you for it. But I do need to know, did you compel me another time? Best to just come out with it now, Damon. To tell you the truth, I still haven't dealt with everything and I'd rather not have another mental surprise."

"Why?" he asks. "You'll remember on your own anyway. It's not a big deal if I tell you, it changes nothing anyway."

I detect a hint of sadness at that point, an indelible mark of concealed despair. Because of it, I hunger all the more for the knowledge he's withholding.

"Damon," I whisper, cradling his face. "I can see it affects you, so it has to be a big deal. Please be cooperative with me on this." I take a breath. "Now I'll ask again - did you compel me another time?"

With my sensitive eyes, I carefully watch his struggle. More than ever before, I see the interplay of emotions marring the planes of his handsome face. The wait seems like it stretches into eternity, but I finally get my answer.

Instead of words though, it's Damon's lips doing the talking. For decency's sake, I resist for the briefest of moments. And then, like all pointless struggles, I finally give in with a groan of agonized pleasure. As his lips move over mine with irresistible power, the memory finally hits me.

It's in bits and pieces, but I have everything I need to know.

"I love you, Elena. And it's because I love you, that I can't be selfish with you." The accompanying look in his eyes paralyzes me. It's a look of pain so acute that it shatters the heart. To know that it's from Damon - that is nothing less than a miracle.

In the midst of my recollection, I am still against him. It's a hold as secure as the shelter of a tree, one that perhaps would remain standing for all of eternity.

"I don't deserve you," he says, his voice so full of pain that my heart weeps for a moment. "But my brother does."

In that moment, I finally know why we were doomed from the start. That pronouncement of his was our end, but now that I remembered his confession, I was determined to make sure it would be our new beginning.

"You know," I say, my voice low, "you should know better."

He looks curiously at me, his curiosity further evidenced by his next question. "What do you mean, Elena?"

"You should know better than to say you don't deserve me and then compel me. What else would I have known but that?"

When the understanding dawns in his eyes, I can see he's reconciled himself to his compulsion's unwitting results. Once he finally decides to comment, I intervene and put a finger to his lips. Giving him a kiss on the cheek, I whisper, "You deserve me too."

At my words, it's safe to say that the resulting look of love on his face literally brings me to tears. Suddenly, I see Damon the man in front of me, as innocent and as hopeful as he was probably was in 1864. For the first time, he looks uninjured.

Not uninjured as in healed, but uninjured as if he'd never been hurt in the first place.

In the silence, he asks his question. It's the question that will determine our future, the query that determines what our tomorrows will look like.

"Now you remember," he says, and his voice is so very quiet. "Does the recollection change anything?"

I look up at him and smile. "Oh no," I say. "Not just anything, Damon. That memory changes everything."


A/N Hell yeah, cliffhanger. Anyway, I'm already editing the third chapter, pending the input you guys will share through your feedback. With that said, I'm going to have fun with this story, since it will include interactions with the gang of Mystic Falls. There will even be some Caroline/Tyler-Klaus hijinks, also featuring Elena and Damon's reaction to the whole thing.

As to other components like hunts, lessons and smut - such aspects are also included. Anyway, everyone knows that's par for the course, correct? Just remember to leave a review, since that pushes me to write. See you guys in the next chapter!