Author's Note:

Wow. Wow. I am still in a thrilled shock over the amazing response I got to this fiction! It was only going to be a one-shot, but I had some requests to extend it, so here is another chapter. It is more straight fluff, but there will be more of a plot in the next chapter, I promise. I can't not thank everyone that encouraged this so much enough! All of you are amazing, thanks again :-)

Elena's P.O.V.

"Is something on your mind?" Stefan asked.

I was standing on the back porch of the boardinghouse, looking out at the grounds. I had originally come over to see Damon so we could talk about what had happened, but he hadn't been here so Stefan had assumed I was there to see him. Knowing it would be complicated to discuss, I hadn't corrected him. Telling him I was here to see his older brother would definitely be a bad idea. Stefan and I weren't technically back together, but I still knew he didn't approve of Damon's feelings for me. Obviously I didn't need his approval for anything, but I didn't feel like a lecture.

I hadn't been able to stop thinking of what had happened between Damon and I last night. I knew that I had meant every single word of what I had said, and the gentle press of his lips against mine had been the most comforting thing I had felt in awhile. I needed him, I needed him desperately. He had become like my oxygen, and without him I couldn't breathe. My chest ached when I thought of ever losing him, it was such an unfathomable thought that I nearly shuddered in revulsion.

"No, just still a little stressed about yesterday," I said, which wasn't completely a lie.

I was still stressed out from the kidnapping, but it had been the events following my return home that had my mind consumed. I thought of when I had been standing at the top of the stairs after the rescue, and Damon had been at the bottom, and how badly I had wanted to run to him. I had started to, but it had been Stefan's arms that caught me. Surprisingly, I'd felt a flicker of disappointment when it hadn't been Damon's arms that had embraced me.

"That's completely understandable," Stefan nodded, laying his hand on my shoulder and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Actually, would you mind giving me a minute alone?" I asked, trying not to sound short with him. I knew that he only trying to be nice, but I needed some time to think.

"Of course," he said, giving me a quick kiss on the forehead before leaving.

I stared out at the grounds and let my thoughts yet again become consumed by the images of dark hair, a beautiful smile, and those breath taking blue eyes.

Damon's P.O.V.

I sat down against a tree as I looked out at the waterfall. I was sitting in the same place I had sat a hundred and forty-five years ago, mourning Katherine. I had also been a human that was close to dying because I refused to drink human blood to complete the transition. Only now, it was not emptiness that was consuming me. It was two mostly unfamiliar emotions to me; love and happiness. When I closed my eyes, I could still feel the sweet press of Elena's lips against mine.

Elena. Even in my thoughts, her name stood out like a pinprick of light in a pitch black room. To me, she was more than a pinprick, though. She was a wide, bright ray of light illuminating everything she touched. And against all odds, against everything I had ever believed possible, she loved me. In spite of my not deserving her, she loved me. It was enough to keep the dark gap of loneliness that had been in me for so long from opening again. She was like the walking representation of my humanity.

Knowing I couldn't savor the sweet, blissful feeling forever even though I wanted to, I started thinking ahead. Now what? I thought, staring at the expanse of water before me. I loved her, and she loved me, but nothing in our lives had ever been that simple. There was the danger to consider, and the fact it was most reasonable to let the danger pass before breaching our delicate bond. Except, it wasn't delicate at all anymore. Unlike the usual fragility that held us to each other, it now felt as if we were permanently joined by the words we had exchanged. Still, knowing that someone was after her and wanted to hurt her, we needed to let the danger pass before I brought this up to her. I didn't want to pressure her.

"Damon?"

At first I thought I was just recalling the way Elena had said my name as she walked up behind me last night, but then I felt a gentle hand come to rest on my shoulder. I looked up into the brown eyes I had frequently lost myself in, and a sweet smile graced her gorgeous features. She situated herself next to me and looked over at me.

"We should talk," she said, taking a deep breath as if to brace herself.

"I know," I nodded. "So, shall we discuss how gorgeous I am or how charming I am? We have options."

She laughed and playfully smacked my arm. "You know what we need to talk about," she said, her smile fading as her gaze became serious.

"I know what you need to say, and I understand. You think we should wait until the danger passes to pursue this, and that Stefan will-"

"Damon," she said, cutting me off. "That isn't what I want at all. I love you. That hasn't changed. I don't care what Stefan, or Bonnie - or anyone for that matter - thinks. I love you. And that's all I care about. Just because we aren't going to have time to pursue it right now doesn't change a thing," she said, her eyes locked on mine.

I searched for words to describe how much those words meant to me, but found none to properly describe the relief flooding my mind. "I love you Elena," I whispered even though she had already heard it. They were the only words that would come to mind that I could think of to reply with.

She opened her mouth to reply, but I silenced her by bringing my lips gently to hers. I did it without an air if insistence, but she still leaned into me and returned the kiss. I wrapped my arms around her and held her against me, and she brought herself closer. The kiss was reassuring and sweet, filling me with the same blissful feeling her kiss had last night. It said all I needed to know.

It said that no matter what, she and I were in this together.