A/N: I don't own Vampire Diaries or any of the canon characters.

Long moments went by and I thought he might have gone but then I heard his response, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "Don't beat yourself up about it, it's part of what you are now. At least you didn't kill her, you get high marks for that."

"Yeah only because you were there to stop me." I snorted. "Why were you there by the way?" I opened my eyes again to look up at him.

That stopped him and for a moment it struck me that maybe he didn't exactly know himself. "Morbid curiosity." He replied flippantly.

"No really, why stick around? You don't even like me?" I pressed.

"Maybe I was hoping you'd be a bit more fun with my blood running through your veins?" Damon's ever present smirk was firmly back in place and I began to accept that I wouldn't be getting a straight answer from him that night.

"Yeah okay, whatever." I yawned, Stefan was right, I was getting very tired. It was almost as though I could feel the sun rising higher in the sky even though I couldn't see it.

"Goodnight Elena." His voice sounded blurry and indistinct to me as I started to drift off to sleep. I heard myself give a vague murmur in response. "And I never said I didn't like you." If he said more, I didn't hear it.

The next thing I knew, the day had passed in a deep and dreamless sleep. Though there were no windows in the room, I could feel that it was dark outside. As I opened my eyes, I was startled to find Stefan sitting on the ground watching me sleep. "Geezus…" I gasped, whacking the back of my head on the stone wall as my body instinctively flinched backwards. "How long have you been sitting there?"

"Not that long. The sun's been down for about a half an hour." Stefan had the good grace to look a little guilty over having startled me.

"Why didn't you wake me?" I asked, wiping the sleep from my eyes.

"I thought you might need the sleep." He gave a faint shrug, watching me intently.

Suddenly it occurred to me that I hadn't spoken to Jenna since the attack. Reaching for my phone, I was surprised to see no missed calls. "I need to call Jenna, she's probably going out of her mind right now."

"I already called her, told her you were coming over here for dinner tonight." Stefan offered with a faint smile. "She thinks you were up early before she got up today, no worries."

For some reason it didn't sit quite right with me that he'd taken the liberty, though I suppose I should have been grateful that he'd thought of it. "Oh… thanks." I gave him a tight smile as I sat up and stretched. The first thing I noticed was that I felt no aches or pains from sleeping on the cramped cot, in fact, I felt kinda incredible.

"How are you, are you ok?" Stefan seemed concerned about something, but I was too engrossed with how I was feeling to pay him much mind. Belatedly I realized that he'd said something to me.

"Hm? Yeah I'm fine. Great even." That was a serious understatement. I felt strong enough to lift a car… and I probably could. The idea made me feel giddy.

"I thought that maybe we should…"

As I bounded up to my feet, I knew there was a loopy smile on my face, but I just couldn't help it. So far being dead felt amazing.

"Race you upstairs." A carefree laugh bubbled out of me and I ran… no, I flew up the stairs to the living room. Stefan was fast on my trail, so I blew out the front door, pausing just at the entrance to the woods. Surprised at how clear my vision was even in the uncertain light, my head canted to one side as I listened to the sounds hanging on the night air.

At my side, Stefan looked less than thrilled with my running out on him, but I ignored his discomfort. "Lets go for a run." I suggested, looking longingly towards the trees.

Stefan's brows drew together to form a single dark line against his pale features. "Elena… first we really need to talk…"

My eager smile gave way to a scowl. "About what?" Okay yeah, I knew what but that was the last thing I wanted to get into at the moment. I just wanted to keep feeling the way I was feeling which was alive and powerful. More than anything I wanted to chase that feeling of freedom, to savor the night air and the delights to be had by moonlight.

"Well…"

I waved away the lecture I knew was coming about responsibilities and consequences, reminded that for all his appearance of being seventeen Stefan had the soul of an old man. "Stefan I know we need to deal with this but, can't you just let me enjoy this for like five minutes?" I gave him my most winsome smile, the one that usually got me the window seat, or free drinks at the Grill.

His face broke into a smile then. "Sure. Let's run together." He reached his hand out for me to take it.

"You'll have to catch me first." I grinned, putting on a burst of speed.

*** back from commercial ***

Super speed and agility aside, trees should not be taken lightly.

I found this out the hard way after I zigged when I should have zagged, garnering me a close encounter with a red oak that was more solid than it looked. Though in retrospect, given the fact that my skin healed much more quickly than the bark I knocked off, I'd have to say that I gave as good as I got, might even have emerged as the victor in the skirmish.

Stefan was instantly crouched at my side, a solicitous hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"Just my pride." I stood up with a disgruntled look, wiping the dirt and leaves off of my backside. Already the angry abrasion on my arm had faded to a faintly red blush, the pain fading just as fast.

"Maybe this would be a good time for a break and to have that talk?" He straightened slowly and I was struck by his innate sense of grace when something else caught my attention, the faintest rustle of leaves in the distance.

"What was that…?" I interrupted him again.

"What? I don't hear…"

"No shhh…" My head tilted to one side, my eyes slanting nearly all the way shut as I tried to pinpoint the location of the noise.

Stefan's expression grew remote and then a smile crossed his lips, transforming his entire face from broody stick in the mud to the sexy vampire I had grown to love. "It's a deer, a big one from the sound of it."

I matched his smile, concentrating on the sound of the animal moving through the underbrush, drawing closer. It was amazing how much detail I could get from that one sense alone and then I caught its scent and my mouth started to water. "It's like I can feel it…" I murmured, my whole focus shifting to tracking the animal, blocking out the other night sounds of the forest.

"Would you care to join me in the hunt?" His hand outstretched again and this time I took it.

"Now you're talkin'." I grinned, gripping his hand tightly. My first instinct was to charge after the animal but Stefan held fast to my hand, holding me back. After the burst of impatience, I began to grasp that he was intent on showing me how to move through the underbrush without making a sound. Once I understood the trick to it, it came much easier, and we stalked the animal together.

To my growing frustration, I found that I couldn't understand any of the hand signals he was trying to give me and he was forced to whisper at my ear in a voice only I could hear. A shiver went down my spine as his perfect lips grazed against the delicate whorls of my ear and it had nothing to do with the cold. If I was being honest, I can admit that for a moment I completely forgot about the deer while he went on about flanking positions, focusing only on his proximity until he drew away again. Only then did the hunger return with a vengeance.

As near as I could understand it, he wanted us to split up and keep the deer between us. Beyond that, the tactics were a little blurry to me. With a silent nod, Stefan disappeared into the night and no matter how hard I strained, I heard no trace of his movements. After a moment I stopped trying, focusing instead on the animal. My efforts weren't all that shabby either and I was proud to say that I had no trouble drawing nearer to the deer without him giving any sign that he was aware of my presence.

Suddenly I didn't want to stalk, I wanted to chase. At the last moment, I deliberately crunched through the thicket, sending the deer darting off into the night. With a gleeful laugh I gave chase, my hair flying behind me as I ran down my prey. It was all too easy to keep pace with the deer, its sudden shifts in direction the only thing making the chase interesting. With a sudden lunge, I leapt into the air, triumph surging through my veins as I brought the animal down, my fangs descending at the same moment to sink into its neck. I became aware of Stefan drinking from the opposite the deer, his hand covering mine as I gripped its powerful body, keeping it still. For one perfect moment everything was right with the world.

But the surge of triumph faded almost immediately, replaced by the distinct feeling that something was lacking. I pulled away, drawing the back of my hand across my mouth as I watched him continue to feed. Finally he looked up, seeming to notice that I was no longer at his side. The deer slumped to the ground, its breathing labored.

"It won't live, will it?" I asked softly, watching the deer thoughtfully.

"No, not after both of us fed from it." Stefan answered readily, his voice grave.

"You should kill it." I said sadly. "No reason for it to suffer like that." I couldn't stand to watch it, knowing that I had been the cause of its pain, but neither was I able to look away.

It was easily done, and I watched with sick fascination as Stefan snapped its neck like a twig. A big meaty twig with antlers. Was it weird that I hadn't been grossed out by drinking its blood but now I was a little grossed out by the carcass?

"What a waste. I feel like we should… bury it or feed it to the homeless or something." I sighed.

Stefan chuckled at that. "It's usually best if we just leave it out in the woods and other animals will feed from it."

Other animals. Animals like us, only scavengers, not predators like us.

"Do other animals taste the same? Or do you get cravings for say squirrel or rabbit?" I was only teasing a little bit, the rest of me really wanted to know. For a split second I wondered if he would get annoyed the way that Damon had been when I'd plied him with a hundred and one questions, but to my relief he seemed to have no problems giving me a straightforward answer.

"They all have their different flavor, I prefer deer. They're plentiful, not too hard to bring down and they rarely bite back."

It didn't seem very sporting to hunt something that couldn't bite back… wait… what was I thinking? I had enjoyed the hunt, the chase, it was only after I'd tasted my prey that I found dissatisfaction. "It seemed a little…"

"Lacking?" Stefan gave an understanding smile.

"Totally. Maybe I'm just more of a bunny girl." I shrugged, wiping delicately at my chin.

Stefan drew me close and out of habit I went into his arms, laying my head against his chest. "It'll get better, I promise."

"How do you know?" He'd probably been eating animals for so long he didn't even remember what it tasted like to drink anything else. I'd just tasted human blood for the first time the night before and I couldn't imagine anything else being more potent. Ah how young and naïve I was….

"Because, the transition to animal blood gets easier over time. After a while you won't even miss it." He pressed a kiss into my hair.

Human blood. He didn't say it but I knew exactly what he meant. I gave him a hesitant smile. If that's the way it had to be, that's the way it had to be.

Though my thoughts did briefly stray to Damon's words the night before. It didn't have to be all one way or the other. Was it possible to live on a diet of animal blood and some human blood? Or would the temptation be too great? I realized that while I was mulling over these gory options Stefan was just enjoying the pleasure of holding me. With a guilty smile I drew back, not wanting to give him the wrong impression. Though I was no longer quite so angry with him, I wasn't ready to jump right back in to where we were a few days ago. "We should get back don't you think?" I said to cover my withdrawal.

The walk back was a quite a bit slower, my mood much more somber than when I'd left the house in a burst of speed. Stefan seemed hesitant to bring up "the talk" now and I left him that way, not exactly eager to get into it myself. But as we reached the house, I knew there were some things I couldn't put off any longer.

"I should really go home and talk to Jenna. I have no idea what I'm going to tell her… but I have to tell her something."

He looked distressed at the idea. "The fewer people that know about us the better."

"I know that, don't you think I know that?" I snapped at him, instantly hating myself for the kicked puppy dog expression that showed up on his face. With an effort I softened my tone of voice. "I can't just keep disappearing all day and all night, she'll flip out. And I can't keep sleeping in your basement; I need to come up with something a little more permanent. Unless you're willing to cough up your ring." I joked.

Stefan looked down at the ring on his finger and I could see he was seriously considering it.

"Hey, I was just kidding. I can't take your ring." The words spilled out of my mouth, hardly believing that he could really be thinking about it.

"It wouldn't have to be permanent." He twisted the ring on his finger. "Just until we figure out what to do."

"Stefan… I…"

Stefan pulled the ring from his finger and slipped it onto mine, onto that finger. "Just take it. I'll sleep better knowing you're safe."

"It's too big, it'll fall off." I pulled it off again, holding it out to him.

Taking a step backwards, his face made it clear that he wouldn't be accepting it back. "Elena…" He sighed, in a tone that brooked no argument.

I looked down at the ring, not feeling entirely good about establishing my safety at the expense of his. "Just until I figure out how to deal with this." I promised, slipping the ring onto my thumb where it sat more snugly. "Where did you get this one anyway?"

His face clouded and he looked away. "From Katherine."

"Oh." I wasn't quite sure what to say to that. From what I understood she was dead, really dead, though I didn't know the circumstances. "Guess there's not much chance in getting another one then, is there?"

"There might be a way."

My head came up in surprise. "What, the internet?"

The corner of his mouth twitched into an almost smile. "Not exactly. Look I've got to go check some things out. Promise me you'll keep that on, okay? I might be gone for a couple of days."

"Where are you going?"

"Just promise me." He insisted, his eyes intent.

"I promise."

Stefan leaned towards me as if he might kiss me and I hovered there, not sure if I wanted him to or not. I had just decided that maybe I did when he pulled away, giving me a tight smile. "Stay safe Elena." And then he was gone.

*** back from commercial ***

I stood just outside of the boarding house, it being just barely after sundown. What was I supposed to do, go home? With the ring I could handle being out in public but there was no way I would be able to go to school with how drained I was during the day. Maybe if I pleaded a case of mono… So intent was I on this train of thought that I didn't hear Damon's approach until he spoke practically at my ear and I jumped in spite of myself.

"Baby brother leave you all alone?"

"Can't put anything past you." I muttered, turning on my heel, I walked past him into the house as if I had every right to be there.

"No big plans for the night then?" Damon followed me into the house. "Or was that it already? A quick hunt for trail mix and then back to beddy-bye?"

"Don't you have something else to do yourself?" I stopped and turned to face him, a little disconcerted by how close he was to me. "Don't you have some unsuspecting virgins to torture or something?"

"Why, do you know any?" His grin was wolfish.

A disgusted snort left my lips and I moved to turn away again but he caught my hand, keeping me easily in place. "Wanna go have some fun?" His eyes flashed with mischief.

"With you? No thanks, I'll pass."

"Don't be so hasty, you don't even know what kind of fun I'm offering."

"I have a picture in my head, it's very vivid. No thank you."

Damon chuckled at that. "While that might be fun sometime too, I was thinking about something a little more instructional."

I knew I was being suckered in, but even so I couldn't help but fall for it. "Oh? What did you have in mind then?"

"A trip into the city? Stretch your legs a bit, maybe show you how the other half lives. No animals in sight, I promise."

I was sorely tempted, I freely admit, but something kept me from agreeing on the spot. For one thing I had a feeling that Damon wouldn't have any compunction about killing someone for sport just to show me a thing or two and I had a big problem with that. On the other hand, I really did want to learn more about what I could do and Stefan was gone for who knew how long.

"Promise me we won't kill anybody." My chin came up with determination.

"I can only promise for myself." Damon chuckled.

"No…" The torment came back to me of what I'd done to Jenna in that moment. If he hadn't shown up when he had… "You have to promise me that if I get… out of control, you'll stop me before I do anything too bad."

Damon stared back at me for a long moment before giving a slow nod. "Alright, if that's how you want it."

"I do. That's the only way I'll agree to go."

"Fine. But you can't go out looking like that. Go put something sexy on." He spun me by the shoulders and gave me a light shove towards the stairs.

"I didn't exactly pack to go clubbing." I pointed out, even as I moved up the stairs dutifully.

"Well put on a pair of jeans at least, something that'll show off your ass."

"Why do I need to show off my ass exactly?" I gave him a look over my shoulder.

"Because I like the way your ass looks in tight jeans." He smirked.

It was going to be a long night.

A/N: Okay I know there was a lot of Stefan in there and this is a Delena fic at heart but we'll get there, I promise.

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