Damon walked away from the Gilbert house completely confused and astonished. He had just kissed Elena. Wait…He had just kissed Elena?

He let the last ten minutes of his undead life replay over and over as he walked back to his house.

Damon knew he was beginning to feel something for Elena recently. Since he met Elena it was something about her that was unlike any person he ever met before. Damon was unsure as to when he began to feel things for Elena other than shear annoyance but all that he knew now was that he was positively giddy.

As Damon continued to think about Elena he realized that in the beginning Elena was a sort of competition for him; a way to keep his brother on edge. Sure, Elena looked almost identical to Katherine but Damon knew from the start that she wasn't and never could be. Katherine was ruthless and cunning, a fiery, unstoppable woman that got her way no matter what. Katherine possessed every bad quality that drove Damon absolutely wild. Elena, on the other hand, was caring and compassionate, loyal to a fault, and giving in a way that he had never seen in a human before.

There were so many occasions that Damon recalled spending time with Elena and not wanting to kill her. In fact Damon found himself wanting to protect Elena more so now than ever. The road trip, the dance they shared on the lawn, and even her unbending trust Elena had in him to do the right thing were all factors in the growing affections that Damon shared for Elena. Elena saw humanity in him when he didn't even think it was possible himself.

Those last few minutes on Elena's porch though were an entirely different story. Damon saw Elena wanting to protect him this night. Elena wanted him to live when she could have just as easily left him to die. When he left he realized his feelings for Elena ran deeper than just a physical attraction. He knew he should have just went back to the boarding house but Damon found himself needing to thank Elena, to see her again, and let her know how much he appreciate what she did.

When Damon realized Elena wasn't home yet he figured he should have a talk with her brother, once again something that Damon would not generally do but felt morally compelled to. After he left Jeremy's room he was about to leave but saw Elena walking up to her door. As Damon told her how he felt and thanked her he decided to place a chaste kiss on her cheek. He figured this would probably be a once in a lifetime opportunity to kiss the girl that belonged to his brother. There was nothing sexual about it; it was not a heated kiss that two people in love share or a kiss full of desire that lovers have in the heat of the moment. It was just a simple kiss. As he pulled away everything changed. Their lips met again in a kiss that was more than just lustful or full of desire. Their second kiss was about need and longing. Damon knew that this went beyond the idea of forbidden fruit, but he honestly didn't care.

It was when their kiss was interrupted by Jenna that Damon was sent back into reality. As Elena left him on the porch to go inside the house Damon touched his fingers to his lips and tried to savor the moment they just shared. Now that he was replaying the events in his head something didn't feel right. He now began to use his vampire speed to race back to the boarding house. Damon needed a drink. No, Damon needed several drinks.

When he walked inside the boarding house he was surprised to hear Stephan on the phone with Elena. He wondered if Elena would tell Stephan what happened. Damon knew that Elena would never lie to Stephan but this could destroy his little brother and Stephan and Elena's entire relationship. As he poured himself a drink to begin to ponder the happenings of the night Stephan got off the phone with Elena and stared at Damon while he began to drink his bourbon.

"I am not really in the mood for a staring contest tonight Stephan," Damon said, quickly annoyed with his little brother.

Stephan looked down, but looked back up just as quickly with what appeared to be sympathy in his eyes.

"Damon I know things have been out of control lately; everything that has been happening with the founder's council and Pearl, not to mention myself. But I wanted to thank you for being a part in helping make things right in Mystic Falls. Elena thinks that you are beginning to change, to show something other than hate and violence. I really hope she is right Damon…"

Stephan looked Damon directly in the eyes and Damon pulled his drink up to his lips to take a long healthy drink. Stephan sighed and began to speak again.

"I don't know what this thing is with Elena and you. If you think you have feelings for her I want you to know that this is not a competition. As long as Elena and I are happy together you will not be interfering with us. I am not holding her hostage, Damon. If she decides that she no longer wants to be together, it is her decision to make. However, she made it quite clear tonight that I am the person she is in love with," Stephan paused to look directly at Damon. Damon just looked into his drink and smirked slightly.

"I know I can trust Elena's life in your hands. That is a relief after everything that has happened and things that we might find ourselves up against in the future. But Damon, don't betray her trust. She sees you as a friend now, don't put her in a position to make her regret that decision." Damon just stared at Stephan. It was quite clear that Stephan didn't know what had just happened, but had Elena said something to Stephan to prompt this speech? Damon decided to play it safe and test the waters with Elena earlier to see where they stood.

"Sure thing Stephan," Damon quickly avoided, not wanting to get his brother all defensive and argumentative. "Whatever you say."

Stephan rolled his eyes and leaned back on the couch pinching the bridge of his nose. He was about to say something more when his phone began to vibrate on the table next to him. The phone said that Elena was calling him; Stephan immediately became confused because he had just gotten off the phone with her. He answered quickly and her Elena stifling and clearing in pain on the other end of the phone.

"Elena's what's wrong?" Stephan almost screamed.

Damon who had been much too interested in pouring himself another glass of bourbon used his vampire hearing to clearly understand Elena's next words on the other end of the phone.

"Katherine is back in Mystic Falls"

Stephan immediately hung up and Damon shattered the glass in his hand. An all too familiar feeling passed through Damon as he was connecting the night's previous events to the current ones. That bitch. Damon instantly thought. He felt like a fool for believing that Katherine could even come close to portraying Elena. He knew instantly that it was Katherine that he kissed merely an hour or so ago, and not Elena.

"Damon, are you coming with me?" Stephan said urgently.

Damon just nodded and both brothers immediately left the boarding house for the Gilbert residence.