AN: So this is where things start to get complicated both in the story and for your writer! I now have to start watching the episodes again because I want this story to actually look like it happened. Meaning that when I get done, I hope you will believe this was happening at the same time as what happened on TV. Easy peezy, right? Enjoy. xoxo

***Chapter revised and updated on Jan/07/2013****

Elena woke up feeling groggy but rested and slightly disturbed by the heavy weight pressing her against her mattress. When she looked down, she was enthralled by the most beautiful sight; the face of a fallen angel, all tousled black hair and long eyelashes, rested on her chest and it made her smile tenderly.

"Damon…" – she whispered marveling at how innocent he looked in his sleep. The man in her arms could never be evil... The man in her arms should never have suffered the rejection he received at the hands of her doppelganger...

The events of the night before came back to her, the memory of how broken this man had been. Then…, Elena blushed as she closed her eyes, remembering how he had removed her top so he could feel her skin and find comfort from his grief. She fiercely ignored how it made her hear flutter… how it felt…

She couldn't help but feel guilty for waking up half naked in Stefan's brother arms in her bed... No matter how good and innocent her intentions had been, this would look wrong... Elena tried to tell herself that there was no reason for guilt, and yet, guilt burned bright in her insides… because one truth she couldn't deny… Elena felt right with Damon draped over her, and feeling so right in another man's arms was wrong in more ways that she could enumerate.

As her heart started to speed up out of nerves and conjectures, Damon started to stir and held her tighter. Elena chuckled in amusement as she ran her hand through his silky locks, bringing him closer to consciousness.

"Go back to sleep." – he mumbled sleepily –"It is not nice to laugh at people's bed head…"

"Well," - she quipped playfully - "you do look awful Damon."

Damon gave her a lazy smile and opened his blue eyes, resting his chin on her chest to beam up at her.

"I never look awful my dear." – he gave her a genuine smile and it made her own stretch as they gazed at each other intently.

"Ahem" – someone else cleared their throat and Elena practically jumped out of her skin at seeing Stefan casually seated on the window bench. "Oh God! What must they look like to him?" - she wondered crestfallen.

"Stefan!"- she practically yelped.

He gave her a pained smile as she unceremoniously untangled herself from his brother and came towards him. Damon winced at being let go so hastily, the action grating against some feeling he could not name as his sanctuary flew towards his brother's arms. "Where she belongs." His discourteous mind offered acidly.

"Hi…" – Elena mumbled when she reached her boyfriend, pushing her hair behind her ear and acting shy when she realized once more her state of undress– "No-nothing happened… I swear Stefan" - Elena offered nervously as she crossed her arms over her bra to hide her shame.

"I know…"- he said tightly, trying to sound kind– "Come here." – Stefan pulled Elena into his lap and nuzzled his nose against hers seeking comfort and reassurance.

Damon watched the display of ownership with some disgust as Elena relaxed into Stefan's embrace.

She was clearly relieved at once more not being punished for trying to help Damon. "Damon…" she remembered and turned to look hastily over her shoulder to see him dressing himself, "I don't care" mask full on and getting ready to leave.

She groaned internally, how could she be so careless with someone in such a fragile state? Well, careless was apparently her word for the day, because Elena was so worried about Damon that she didn't even see the narrowing of Stefan's eyes as she completely ignored him in favour of the man she had "slept with".

"Where are you going?"- she asked the elder Salvatore, hoping she didn't sound too eager. Stefan's tightening grip on her leg however, left no doubt about how needy she did sound after all. Elena felt torn and conflicted, as if with ever action she was playing favorites.

"I'm giving you love birds some space." – Damon said with a patented smirk that didn't fool her one bit.

"Damon…" – Elena started but it died on her lips when he strutted to her, nonchalantly kissed her forehead despite of her still being on his brother's lap and of how close her face was to Stefan's. Damon patted his brother on the shoulder and she felt her boyfriend tense under her, but Stefan said nothing.

"Thanks for last night." – Damon said sincerely, addressing both of them, and was out of the window before she could utter a reply.

Elena stared longingly at where he had left as Stefan watched her speculatively, not liking how distracted she was. He tried to break her out of her "Damon spell" by nuzzling into her ear and was satisfied when she turned her face back to his. Trying to bring Elena back to him, Stefan started running his hands softly on her naked back and over her hip in the kind of circular pattern that normally indicated he wanted to make love to her.

"Will he be ok?" – Elena asked in a small voice, oblivious to Stefan's intentions.

Stefan sighed loudly, disappointed that not even his physical presence could dispel Damon's ghostly one.

"He is Damon…" – he shrugged in reply and then frowned.

"Stefan?" – Elena asked, finally paying attention as she took in his expression.

"You smell like him…" – Stefan mumbled dejectedly, hurt flashing in his eyes.

"Oh…right…" – Elena blushed scarlet and stood up abruptly – "I'll go and have a shower and get ready for school." – she gave him an awkward smile and scurried away into her bathroom.

Stefan watched her go with a sinking feeling in his soul as he ran his hands down his face. So it had finally started, he thought bitterly… He had seen it before… Damon was East, he was West and Elena… Well… all he could hope now is for her not to choose one over the other… Last time he had won the battle for the lady's attention... this time he wasn't so sure he would...

In the bathroom, Elena hurriedly turned the shower and sank to the floor against the cold wall crying. She didn't want to think about Damon OR Stefan or what last night meant for the three of them. But in the back of her head she knew…her good intentions had opened a Pandora's Box and nothing good could come of it… It was written in Stefan's face… and in Damon's too because that mask didn't hide anything… Elena only hoped that she wasn't as transparent as the two Salvatore's and that she could continue to play the "denial game" forever…

"Yeah…" – she snorted – "because that is really going to work…" – she muttered angrily as she wiped her tears with the back of her wrists and got up to get ready for her day…

AN: Hope you liked it! R&R xoxo