AN: Hello everyone. I want to thank every follower and every person who favored and reviewed. There was a problem with the reviews but it's finally fixed now. Anyway, I'm really happy that you like the story so far. I always get all exited when I see someone wrote a review or followed this story, hehe.

I hope you enjoy the next chapter :)

Oh by the way, I wrote this chapter right away in English, I think it's faster this way but there might be a few more mistakes.

Damon

I lay awake for two hours. The whole night I hadn't slept well, now it was around 6am. Today I had to go to work again. I was so tired, I really didn't know how I should survive this day. Elena lay beside me, curled up on her side. She slept peacefully and actually drooled a bit on her pillow. Grinning, I swept her hair out of her face.

Things were a bit better now. Our wonderful night had been three days ago. We talked again, about less important things but also about our relationship. We agreed that we both try to make things better again, that we don't chose the easy way if we have an argument but discuss everything til it's clarified. We both knew now that it didn't do anything good if we hold back the things, we desperately wanted to talk about.

I closed my eyes again and moved a bit closer to Elena, so I could wrap my arm around her. She snuggled closer to me and turned, so her back was against my chest. She loved to spoon so much, she even did it in her sleep. I shoved my hand under her top and placed my hand on her stomach. With slow strokes, I began to message her belly gently. That was always something that relaxed me and even though I didn't want to fall asleep again, it made me feel more comfortable. So I continued to rub slow circles across her soft skin. Elena sighed and I knew she was awake now. It hadn't been my intention to wake her up but she didn't seem to mind one bit.

With a confident purr, I buried my nose in her hair. She smelled so good. I could have stayed there forever but just as I began to feel all cozy, my alarm went off. Groaning I reached over the annoying clock and turned it to snooze, so it would ring in an hour again to wake Elena properly. I kissed her on top of her head and then climbed out of the bed.

I made my way over to the window and looked out of it. It was raining heavily and that made me smile. I hated the heat, the sun, I just couldn't stand it anymore. Not after what happened half a year ago. After a few thoughtful minutes, I went to the bathroom to take a shower and brush my teeth. I took my time because I wasn't ready to start the day already. But the world didn't stop for anybody, so as I was finished in the bathroom and dressed in my suit, I glanced one last time at Elena, and walked into the kitchen. I wasn't really hungry but I knew Elena liked to have breakfast. She just was too lazy to make it every morning. So I made myself useful and began to make a simple breakfast. Bacon and eggs would have to do it.

In the meantime, Elena woke up and greeted me with a grumbled 'morning' before she disappeared in the bedroom again, probably to go to the bathroom and make herself ready for the day. She wasn't a morning person and it was always funny to see her all confused and grumpy. When I was finished cooking, I made myself a plate full of eggs and bacon and began to eat. I ate in silence and listened to rain splashing against the window. It calmed me down, especially the smell of it, so I made sure the window was open.

I was almost finished with my breakfast as I heard a knock on the front door. And another knock, and another and another. I sighed loudly and rolled my eyes. Caroline. Lazily I made my way to the annoying girl who somehow got a part of my life. I opened the door and indeed saw Blondie right at my doorstep. I flashed her a smirk.

"What a pleasure." I greeted her.

"Wish I could say the same.", she answered and stroked through her hair. Caroline shoved me to the side and let herself in. She was Elena's best friend that's why I tolerated her. Oh yeah, and she was dating my little brother.

At the beginning we really couldn't stand each other. She had a squeaky voice and talked to much. Especially talked to much bullshit. She'd always seemed to have something against me. I really couldn't care less if Caroline had liked me or not but it'd pissed me off like hell whenever she had talked shit about me to Elena. That woman had her own relationship, she didn't need to worry about Elena's too. But after half a year or so Caroline and I had gotten along. More or less. We teased each other but I was pretty sure she didn't mean the cruel things she said to me like that. Well, not all of them anyway.

"What happened there?", she asked me and pointed at my arm. I looked down to the scratches on my skin. At first I hadn't even noticed them and as I did, I hadn't known where there were coming from. But than I'd remembered the wonderful night Elena and I had a few nights before and how she clung to my arm and scratched me as I had choked her. I began to grin and shrugged.

"A kitten scratched me."

Caroline raised her eyebrows at me. She seemed to want further explanations but I really didn't want to talk to Caroline right now. Besides, Elena would probably tell her everything as soon as I left for work.

"Elena!" I yelled before Caroline could ask anything other.

"What?"

"Caroline's here."

"Coming!"

I heard her stumble through our bedroom. No idea what she did in there, but I had no time to check on it. I went back into the kitchen and shoved the last bite bacon into my mouth and simultaneously put on my jacket.

When I went back into the living room to fetch my keys, Elena stood in the room, wearing tight blue jeans and a top that clung deliciously on her wonderful upper body. She smiled shyly at me and I felt awkward. I let the keys swing around my index finger and stood there for a moment, just because I didn't know what else to do. Eventually, I cleared my throat, briefly waved her goodbye and then walked toward the door.

I went a few steps but then stopped again. I wanted everything to be better again. Sneak around each other didn't help. So I turned around, marched up to Elena, who was still standing in the same place, but with a sad expression on her face. I wanted to kiss that pout off of her lips. And that's exactly what I did.

I grabbed her face in my hands and pressed my lips hard onto hers. Slowly I moved my mouth, let my tongue trace along her bottom lip, my thumps stroked softly against her cheeks. She sighed and I felt her smile against my lips. That was it. Her smile would help me get through the rest of the day. Elena's fingers curled slightly in my hair. I didn't even remember her putting her arms around my neck, to lost in the wonderful kiss, the feeling of her lips.

I felt Caroline starring at us but I completely ignored it. I really didn't care. All I cared about was the woman I was kissing at that moment. My arms went on their own around Elena's petite body. She seemed so small and fragile compared to me, even though I wasn't that much taller than her. Anyway, it made me feel possessive again. I really wanted to stay with her right now, but I had to go to work. So I pulled slowly back, but let my arms linger a bit longer around her.

After a moment of silence I said my goodbyes to her.

"See you in the evening, baby."

"Yes, you will. I'll cook dinner for you."

I smiled broadly at her. It seemed like a lifetime since we ate dinner together, let alone she cooked it for me. It wouldn't even matter if it would taste like crap. I would eat every bit of it just because I was happy she cooked for me again. Don't get me wrong. I hadn't a problem with cooking. No, I even liked it and my food tasted good. But cooking for someone was the gesture of love and caring as my mother said. And I was really happy Elena would show me this gesture again.

"Can't wait." I told her simply but truthfully. Smiling, I placed a single kiss on her forehead before I let go of her. Thank god my brain had decided to do the right thing, even though it was in the last moment. I wouldn't had have this wonderful moment right now, if I'd gone to work without saying goodbye to her properly.

"Take it easy, Blondie." I told Caroline right before I went out of the door. I knew Elena had to play 20 questions right now.

Elena

Damon wasn't even halfway through the door as Care began to drown me in her questions. It went from 'What did I just saw?! He kissed you with so much passion.' to 'How the fuck did you two made up and why don't I know anything about it?'. I really loved Caroline, she was my best friend since we were kids but sometimes she just was.. exhausting.

I went to the kitchen so we could eat some breakfast together. I waved her after me and she followed but continued to babble away about how she couldn't believe that Damon and I made up.

I set the table after I made our plates full of bacon and eggs. I silently thanked Damon for making breakfast. Caroline always drank orange juice in the morning, so I put the bottle on the table, too. I worked around in the kitchen for a while, put Damon's dishes in the sink and cleaned roughly the counter because I knew I wouldn't get the chance to clean up as soon as Care got the answers to her questions. Because those answers would cause more questions. As I sat down at the table, she was a bit calmer but I knew she couldn't wait to find out what happened between Damon and me.

I texted Caroline the evening before and asked her if she would like to come by this morning. Yesterday I had been convinced this was a good idea, now that Care sat before me and looked at me as if she tried to read my thoughts, I wasn't so sure anymore. But she was my best friend and we talked about everything. I also had to talk about it with someone.

"Now, would you please enlighten me?" Care asked pleading.

I laughed quietly at her but nodded.

"Okay, so how did this happen? I haven't seen you guys so passionate since the beginning of your relationship. I mean that was hell of a goodbye kiss! You two.."

Caroline didn't seem to stop talking, so I let her. I began to eat and tried to keep up with all the things she said to me. Even though she was talking instead of listening, I thought of her as a really good friend. She cared so much, always analyzed every situation and looked out for the best solution.

Suddenly she stopped talking. That's when she seemed to realize that she was constantly babbling. Care sighed dramatically and then waved with her hand toward me as if she wanted to say 'go, talk, before I start again'.

"Things aren't perfect between us yet, but a few nights before something happened and since then we get better day bye day. Sometimes it's a bit awkward but-"

„What exactly did happen, Elena?"

I raised my brows at her and she immediately mumbled a 'sorry' and started to eat to prevent herself from talking. I answered her question though.

"He came home late at night, drunk I might add. We don't really know what happened there but Damon all of sudden got so possessive and.. I don't know. He just couldn't take the silence anymore, I think, so he grabbed me and told me I would belong to him and no one else. Well and then.. we had sex."

Care looked as if she had to solve the hardest riddle in the world. She frowned and placed her fork on the table. I tried to ignore her intense stare and just ate slowly my eggs. In truth my stomach cramped. I was so nervous and I didn't even know why. Maybe it was the way Caroline looked at me. I really didn't know what went through her mind right now.

"So every issues you two had just vanished because of sex? If it were that easy no one would have relationship problems, Elena."

"That's not what I said. It wasn't because of the sex. More because of the feelings during that moment. I felt loved and wanted. He was finally so close to me again and I didn't want to lose him again. So we talked, actually talked, Care. You know how long Damon and I weren't speaking to each other."

This time Care looked like she understood what I meant. She nodded and then smiled softly at me and I couldn't help but smile, too. I poured my heart out to Caroline over the last few months. If someone knew how terrible I had felt, then it was her. I'd always asked myself if it was because of me that Damon didn't open up and didn't talk to me. But Care told me over and over again that it wasn't my fault, that Damon just couldn't talk about it, that it wasn't easy for him. Caroline had held me together and that's why she was my best friend and probably always would be.

"I'm happy for you.", she told me but eyed me closely. „And you sure it gets better?"

„Definitely. You saw how he just wanted to go but then turned around to kiss me and tell me goodbye? I know Damon wants our paradise back, too. It won't be easy, there's a lot we have to talk about but we can do this. I know it, I can feel it."

Care looked at me in sympathy as I spoke my last words and that's when I knew she understood the hidden message in my words. It wouldn't be easy for Damon and me because we hadn't talked about Maljamar yet. Caroline was one of the few people who knew what happened in New Mexico. Well, she didn't knew all the details but neither of us did, except of Damon.

With a shake of her head Caroline stood up and went to the cupboard to take herself a glass. I completely forgot to put one on the table for her.

„You both really try to make things better. I must admit that I lost hope in your love. I already worked out a plan how to sheer you up as soon as you break up."

My eyes grew wide and I looked at her in shock. Caroline didn't believe in my relationship since the beginning but that she already had plans to make me feel better, that I hadn't expected. As soon as she saw the look on my face, she waved a hand at me.

„Come on, Elena, don't sulk. I just care about you.", she explained to me. I shrugged and for a moment, she seemed lost in thoughts before she spoke again with a grin on her face. „All I'm saying is, that it had to be hell of a sex if it caused the two of you to talk."

I gasped at her words but then tried to play it cool and just rolled my eyes at her. However, I couldn't stop myself from thinking how right she was. The sex had been amazing. I considered telling Care just that. She always talked about sex. In that way she was just like Damon. And in fact, I could tell her everything without getting judged by her. Okay, yeah, her first instinct usually was to get all worked up but after that she would calm down and then you could talk normally to her.

„It really was good sex.", I started and Caroline turned toward me. She sat on her chair again and put her hands under her chin. Now, she definitely was listening. My face felt like it was on fire but I continued anyway.

„It was different. He.. you know, he was really demanding."

"Demanding?"

"Okay, so.. he was rough, dominating. But I liked it, very much. He grabbed me and told me in what position he'd wanted me but I didn't felt humiliated, no, I felt loved and taken care of. It was really hard sex yet I felt protected. He just showed me how much he wanted me and couldn't control himself." I paused for a few seconds and as Care didn't say anything I asked her a question I already knew the answer to, but I wanted to hear her opinion. "It's okay I liked that, isn't it?"

Caroline just looked at me and again I didn't know what she thought. She was anything but uptight, but when Care went silent, it was either something really good because she truthfully thought about what you said, or it was something really really bad.

"I like that, too.", she answered finally and a flood of relief overcame me. Not just because Caroline answered me but because I wasn't the only one. Then the morning after that night, I'd been afraid that something could be wrong with me. "The most important thing is that you want it, too. As long as Damon doesn't push you into this, it's totally okay."

"No, no, he assured me that he would never treat me like that in any other situation and as long as it's just about sex, I absolutely want it. And.." I looked at Caroline. She clung to every word I had to say to her. "..I think this is good for our relationship, too. You know, maybe if he's rough in the bedroom and he's in charge, he can get some of the control back he lost in New Mexico. I think he needs this balance."

"Interesting thought, I think you might be right. Damon needs control. But remember, don't do this, if you don't want to do it."

"I want it, Care. That's something I'm absolutely sure about.", I promised. An overwhelming feeling of happiness flooded through me and I just couldn't stop myself. I sprang of my chair and let myself fall into Caroline's arms. "Thank you so much, for listening and everything else. You're the best friend ever."

Care's arms went around my middle and she hugged me tightly to her. "Tell me something I didn't know already." In this moment she remembered me so much of Damon. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I was far too happy to care about her teasing anyway.

„Hey." Caroline let go of me and looked at me questioningly. „Does Damon still call you kitten?"

"Er, yeah, sometimes I think. Why?" I asked.

"Just put something together." Care shook her head and sighed. I thought I'd heard her say 'idiot' but I didn't know for sure. But it didn't matter to me then as Caroline wrapped her arms around me again, all I wanted to do was hug my best friend and thank her again for her help.

Caroline and I had finished our breakfast while talking about nothing and everything. She'd told me about her date night with Stefan. She really seemed to like him. Normally, Caroline didn't do relationships. Once she had been dating Tyler Lockwood but it didn't end well and since then she'd stayed away from men. Until she met Stefan through Damon. She was head over heels in love from the very first moment, even though they took it slowly. But I was sure they were meant for each other.

After breakfast we'd cleaned the kitchen together. I truthfully hadn't thought this morning would went so easily. It wasn't always this simple telling Care the newest relationship stuff. She always got all worked up or super exited but this time she was really thoughtful and cautious. I'd even asked her if everything was okay, but she assured me that everything was fine and I believed her.

Care had gone home around noon. We'd spent a good day together. Now I was at the grocery store, getting some things for dinner tonight. I wanted to cook something special for Damon, I wasn't that good at it but I was optimistic.

I looked over my shopping list. Most of it I already had in my shopping bag. I just needed one more thing but I couldn't find it. Losing my patience, I went unwary through the store. I really hated grocery shopping. Most of the time, I didn't find anything, people were running in your way. It was just pure stress. It also was still raining outside and my clothes were soaked. I wanted to get this over with.

As I went around a corner, I suddenly collided into a man. Startled, I apologized, and he did the same. He was good looking, young, maybe the same age as me. His brown hair was slightly tousled and it looked really good on him. His brown eyes lit up as his gaze fell on my face.

"Who would have thought that it could be good to bump into someone in a grocery store.", he said with a cheery voice and a British accent. His face looked so familiar but I couldn't quiet place him. "How beautiful you are."

I turned to the products that were stabled in the shelve next to me, because my face heated up. Compliments weren't something I could handle very well, I didn't know why. With Damon, I had already gotten used to it but whenever someone else told me I was good looking or something like that I felt really uncomfortable. Nevertheless, I murmured a 'thanks' in his direction. I didn't want to be rude.

"Hey, I know this might be weird, I normally don't do something like that in a grocery store, but you're really pretty. Would you like to give me your phone number?", he asked with a confident voice.

Oh my god! What kind of guy flirted with a woman in a grocery store? Well okay, he looked good but it was strange though.

"Oh, er, I'm in a relationship.", I explained awkwardly.

"Doesn't have to stop you." He smirked very Damon-like but it didn't look half as good as it did on my man. He held his hand out to me. "I'm Kol. Kol Mikaelson."

Mikaelson! I knew I'd seen his face before. Frightened, I backed a few steps away and bumped into a piled up chocolate pyramid. Mikaelson grabbed my arm to prevent me from falling and laughed quietly at me. It sent chills down my spine.

"Easy there.", he said laughing.

"Don't touch me!" I jerked my arm away, straightened myself and looked him deadly in the eyes. "My boyfriend is Special Agent Damon Salvatore. Touch me again and you will regret it!"

I grabbed my things and turned around.

My heart pounding rapidly in my chest.