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Chapter 4

School started again and Elena started taking classes at the local community college with Bonnie, Tyler, and Caroline. They had discussed moving away but with Jeremy still in school they knew they needed to be there for him. So they decided that after Jeremy graduated, they would all leave Mystic Falls. They would find a new town to start over again, where hopefully they would not have run-ins with supernatural beings ever day, other than themselves of course.

The year anniversary of the ritual came and went. They all avoided talking about it until the day actually arrived. It began with Elena and Alaric having a heart-to-heart about Jenna and how she would want him to move on with his life and meet someone new to love. As they were talking Jeremy and Bonnie showed up, followed by Damon and eventually Carolyn and Tyler. They all shared stories, both happy and sad, and finally drifted off going separate ways to deal with their grief alone for the remainder of the night. Of course Damon and Elena spent the night together, as they did every night, but this night was different. As they lay in bed holding one another, they finally allowed themselves to discuss Stefan freely for the first time since he had left.

"He loved you more than anything else, you know? I thought he'd never be happy again after Katherine, but then he met you and it was like he was his old self again. The brother I knew and loved before Katherine came into our lives. You brought him and I back together, and I will forever be grateful of you for that." Damon said softly as he stroked Elena's hair.

"He loved you too, Damon. I know I caused you guys to fight and I hate myself for that, but he was happy to have you back in his life, that much I know for sure." Elena let out a sigh, and Damon instantly knew what she was thinking.

"You are not Katherine, Elena. You could never be like her. She tore us apart, you brought us back together. Yes, we bickered and fought at times, and Stefan hated that I was falling for you, but you are still the reason that we became brothers again."

They both lay there silently for awhile, thinking about what the other had said. Finally, Elena spoke up.

"Thank you Damon, for being here for me this past year. I don't know what I would have done without you. I definitely wouldn't be this content with my life. Losing Stefan was so hard, and I don't want you to think for a minute that I think of you as a replacement for him, but being with you does make me feel close to him still. Knowing that we both hold a piece of him in our hearts…" Elena trailed off, lost in her thoughts again.

"You don't have to thank me. We were both here for each other. I know I don't say it much, but it was hard for me to lose him too. And I feel the same way. He will always be with us through our memories." Damon squeezed her shoulders and she cuddled closer to him.

They spent the rest of the night talking about Stefan and all the happy memories they have of him. Damon told her stories about their childhood and about how close they were before Katherine came along. And Elena told him about how her and Stefan met and how she had grown to love him. She thought she would feel awkward talking to Damon about falling in love with Stefan, but she did not at all. It seemed entirely natural to be sharing these memories with him, even as she was curled up in bed with her former love's brother.

From that point on there was no more skirting around the topic of Stefan. They would talk about him on a regular basis without cringing at the thought of their missing loved one. Opening up like this with each other was a real turning point in their relationship. Elena was starting to have very strong feelings for Damon, and now that they were able to discuss Stefan as her former lover instead of her current boyfriend, she allowed herself to give in to the feelings for Damon more than she had in the past. And Damon seemed more open to her than he ever had in the past. It was actually getting to the point where Elena was shy to be in bed with Damon because of the feelings of longing she was having for him. After a few nights of her not getting very close to him, he finally called her on it.

"What's going on with you Elena? The last few days you've been acting distant and strange. Did I do something to upset you?" He asked and Elena could see the real concern in his eyes. She wanted so badly to just blurt out how she felt about him, but she was too scared. No matter what Damon said, she always had the fear in the back of her mind that she would be like Katherine. She constantly questioned whether she had mourned for Stefan long enough, whether she was worthy of Damon's love, whether she could ever show Damon how much she cared about him without him always thinking he was a replacement for Stefan. So instead of talking, she decided to just go for it and hope he did not reject her again like the last time. She leaned forward and whispered his name with their faces just inches apart. She looked into his eyes and could see the longing there. She knew in her heart that they both wanted this, and she was finally ready to give into it, but she froze. She could not bring herself to close the distance between their lips. It would have to be Damon's choice this time. Her eyes darted quickly down to his lips and then back to his eyes. It took a moment for Damon to realize what she was asking; of course she would be afraid to make the first move again after he turned her down the last time. He definitely would not make that mistake twice. His lips turned up slightly in a smile and then he crashed his mouth to hers.

The kiss started out soft and slow and quickly turned more passionate. They did not speak any words the rest of the night, other than the soft sounds of pleasure and desire and unadulterated love for one another. They eventually fell asleep in a naked tangle of limbs, both feeling happier than they had in a very long time. They were both so sound asleep that they did not notice the window sliding opening or the form standing over them with a look of rage on his face.

"Elena! Wake up!" Damon jostled her until she finally opened her eyes and looked at him in confusion.

"What's going on?" She asked as she watched him rush to the window and lock it. It was still dark out, so it must be early morning. She noticed he had already put his clothes back on, and that fact did not make her happy. She wanted to spend the day in bed basking in the afterglow of the amazing night they had shared.

"It's Stefan. He's back." As he said the words, Elena felt her blood run cold. How could Stefan be back? It had been a year since he had left. Why now? Deep down she always knew this day would come, but it had been so long she had started to delude herself into thinking he was never coming back. The panic was beginning to set in. Was he still drinking human blood? Was he here because he wanted to kill her or because he missed her and wanted to be with her again? And if he did want to be with her, would she be with him? It was not like they had ever officially broken up, it had just been assumed that when he left her their relationship was also over. After last night, there was no going back for her. She definitely still loved Stefan and probably always would, but things were different now. Damon was the man in her life. Although they had not officially become a couple or discussed what last night meant to each of them, she had assumed that was where they were headed. She loved Damon and she knew he loved her. They just needed time to talk and figure things out. Elena finally snapped out of her reverie when she realized that Damon was staring at her.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked and she detected a faint hint of sadness in his voice.

"Where do I start? Did you see Stefan? Why was he here? And why didn't he wake me up if he came here to see me?" She asked in a rush.

"I didn't see him. I just woke up and I can smell him, so I know he was here. I have no idea what he wants or why he didn't wake us up. I assume he may have woken you if it wasn't for the fact that you were sleeping in my arms…naked." As he spoke he moved to the window and stared out into the night. "I need to go to the boarding house and talk to him, I'm sure that is where he's staying."

"If you're going, I'm going with you." Elena said with determination. This was her one trait that he most loved and hated at the same time. He knew he was going to be in for a fight in trying to change her mind.

"Elena, please. Don't argue with me on this. We have no idea what state of mind Stefan is in right now, and I refuse to put your life in danger until I have a chance to find out." He looked at her with pleading eyes, knowing that he was probably going to lose this battle but having to try anyway.

"And you think I'm okay with putting your life in danger, Damon? I know you're less breakable than me, but that doesn't mean I want you to risk getting hurt either!" She practically yelled this, but then softened at the next words that left her mouth. "I love you, Damon. I need you to be okay just as much as you need me to be." Elena blushed and looked down, slightly embarrassed at having admitted her feelings for him in that moment. Damon was in front of her in a flash and he gently lifted her chin so that she met his gaze. They both stared into each others eyes for a moment and then Damon's lips met hers. This kiss was different than last night. Last night was passionate and full of need. This kiss was slow and showed how much they each loved the other. It told her everything she needed to know about their relationship. Even if they had not discussed it, her and Damon were very much together. There was no going back to Stefan, even if he did return to his old self. Damon was a part of her now, he was her life as much as she was his. Damon finally broke apart from the kiss and looked deep into Elena's eyes once again, then spoke with more conviction than she had ever heard from him.

"I love you, Elena. So, so much. And knowing that you feel the same way, that is more than I ever could have hoped for. If you want to go to Stefan together, we will. But not now. We will wait until tomorrow and then go see him. We're taking backup though, just in case." Elena started to respond but before she had a chance Damon had her back in bed, wrapped in his arms, kissing her as if she was the most precious thing on the earth. She knew in that moment that whatever happened with Stefan tomorrow, and despite the love she once felt for him in the past, Damon was her forever.