AN: Thanks for your awesome response! I really appreciate it. I only hope that this story will continue to entertain you. This chapter is a bit shorter, as it only covers the morning after, but I think you will still enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I still own nothing and am only borrowing the established characters and plots, etc to create my own spin.

Elena groaned as she tried to shift closer to the warmth that enfolded her, but came up against something solid that was definitely not pillow or blanket. Her eyes snapped open and she saw the arm that lay over her waist. She tried to pull away, but the arm gently tightened and pulled her closer. She turned her head and saw Damon's head resting on the pillow inches from her face.

"What the hell Damon?" Elena said angry at his intrusion.

Damon groaned and feigned sleep only tightening his grip more.

"You don't sleep Damon." She said flatly.

"You're spoiling the moment Elena." he said copying her tone and trying to bury his face in her hair and snuggle closer.

After a moment's hesitation she struggled against his grip and he reluctantly let her go. He flipped onto his back and crossed his hands behind his head. He watched as she scurried over to the haphazardly discarded jeans and pulled them on.

"You know, you should really take a shower first. I can smell him all over you." Damon said.

"What?" She asked confused, "Who?"

"Stefan."

Elena's eyes shot up to meet Damon's and a dark look crossed her face. "That's none of your business." She muttered.

"I beg to differ." He said. Smirking he added, "You spent the night in my arms."

"Not by choice" she replied searching through her closet for clean clothes.

"Whatever." He said and smiled as he watched her grabbing clothes and stalking towards her bedroom door.

"I'm going to shower. Please leave." Then turned and walked out of the room.

Damon lay on the bed and smiled. This was going to be fun.

Elena stood in the shower letting the hot water wash away the remnants of the night before. She scrubbed her body head to toe trying to rid herself of the heartache of Stefan's betrayal, the trauma of the accident, and finally of Damon's invasion of her personal space. She could smell the intoxicating scent of his cologne on her and she wanted to be free of its heady aroma. Elena stood under the hard spray until the water ran cold then stepped out and wrapped herself in a fluffy towel.

Elena tried to come up with reasons to not leave the bathroom. She blow dried her hair and put it in a messy bun, worked meticulously on her make up and slowly rubbed lotion on her legs before donning her attire. She wanted to be sure to give Damon plenty of time to leave before she walked back to her room. As she opened the bathroom door she was hoping that Damon had heeded her request and left, but she wasn't going to hold her breath. He definitely marched to the beat of his own drummer and only did things to further his own agenda.

Elena entered her bedroom and was prepared to see Damon again, but instead came face to face with his brother, Stefan.

Stefan stood in front of the window in Elena's bedroom staring at his feet in a distracted manner. When he heard Elena enter the room he slowly looked up and tilted his head a bit. "Elena." He said a bit too dejected for her taste.

"God!" She breathed shaking her head then looking him in the eye, "What is it with you two?"

"You two?" Stefan asked. "Was Damon here?"

"What do you care?" Elena asked sharply.

"What did he want? Did he hurt you?" Stefan asked quickly rushing forward towards her.

Elena took a step back and Stefan stopped mid stride. "Elena, I…"

"I really don't want to hear it Stefan, I just want you to leave." Elena said with determination.

Stefan nodded his head silently then dropped something on the corner of her bed. In an instant he was gone and Elena walked over to the bed seeing the pendant lying there. She picked it up and held it from her fingers and let it dangle in front of her face as she sank onto the bed.

"I thought he would never leave."

Elena jumped at the sound of Damon's voice coming from behind her.

"I thought I told you to leave too." Elena groaned and flopped backwards on the bed.

"You did." He said. Elena could hear the smile in his voice.

"Well?" Elena asked indicating the window.

Damon walked to the bed and lay down on his back beside her then reached for the necklace, picking it up from where it had landed on her stomach. "Aww, isn't that sweet? He brought you a present."

Elena rolled her eyes and mumbled "Whatever."

"You should put it on you know." He said and Elena looked at him quizzically.

"You wouldn't want me to be tempted to compel you, now would you?" He asked laughing at her.

"You wouldn't." She said staring up at the ceiling, completely confident that she was right.

"And why exactly would you think that?" He asked amused.

"You like arguing with me too much." She said turning her head towards him.

"Hmm." He said nodding his head in an almost silent agreement.

"Put it on Elena." Damon said turning his head towards her, lying shoulder to shoulder now put them almost nose to nose and Elena began to feel the effects of his closeness.

"If it's so important, why don't you just compel me to do it?" she whispered staring into his eyes.

"No." he said then lifted onto his forearm turning his body slightly toward Elena his face drawing that much closer to her. "Please."

Elena was no longer sure if Damon was referring to the pendant or if maybe he was asking permission to kiss her. She was tempted, oh, how she was tempted by the sight of his lips so close to hers that she could feel his breath on her cheek. When Elena realized the train of her thought she rolled off the side of the bed and snatched the necklace from his grasp. "Fine."

Elena struggle with the clasp and Damon gently took it from her hand. Stepping behind her Damon brought the necklace over her head and secured it around her neck. When he was done Damon let his fingers trail gently across her exposed flesh and she felt a shiver run down her spine.

Turning back towards Damon she mumbled, "I hate this necklace.", then tucked it under her sweater so she no longer had to look at it, but she could almost feel it burn her skin where it rested.

"It's beautiful, like you." Damon said with what looked to be a genuine smile on his face.

Elena chose to ignore the compliment and said, "But it reminds me of everything I dislike about your brother right now. Every time I look at it or touch it, I see Katherine's face in that picture. It feels like a shackle."

Damon nodded his head in understanding, "But it represents your freedom from being controlled."

Elena gave him a half grin, "Way to look at the glass half full." She said with a little laugh.

"What can I say? I'm the eternal optimist" he said his voice dripping in sarcasm.

"More like the eternal pain in my ass." She mumbled.

Please don't forget to review. I can only make the story better if I know what you think. Use the review to let me know what you think, good or bad (no flames, but feel free to use constructive criticism) or even things that you might like to see happen. This is a work in progress so nothing is set in stone. (: