New chapter! A little on Damon and Stefan's mother in here, sorry if any of the facts are wrong. It's all fictional, and not much is mentioned about her in the show, so I just kind of made it up as I went. Thanks :)

When Elena awoke the next morning, she was a little confused. It took her a minute to realize that she was at the Salvatore mansion, and that the previous day wasn't a dream as she'd hoped. Stretching, and getting up she noticed a pale blue dress, with no corset, thank god, and it looked a little more worn than the one she'd had on yesterday.

"Good morning." Came a cheery voice from the doorway. Elena turned to see Maria sliding in.

"Will these do? Master Damon has told me the two of you will be riding today, so I didn't want to put out anything too new."

Elena smiled at the kind woman. "Oh, these are fine. Is it time for breakfast yet?"

Mariah shook her head. "Not, quite mam, breakfast will be served in about twenty minutes. I can help you get dressed if you'd like."

"Thank you, I really appreciate it."

The elder woman shook that off, "Oh nonsense child, it's my pleasure. I never had a daughter, but if I had, I'd like to think she'd wear clothes as fine as some I've seen, and look just as beautiful as you do Miss."

Elena blushed. "Thank you."

Maria got her tied up and situated in very little time, so she was able to explore some before dinner. Unfortunately she happened to cross by Katherine's room, just as Stefan was leaving it.

"Um, Miss Elena..." He seemed at loss for words. She did her best to smile at him, even though the situation was beyond awkward.

"Goodmorning, Mr. Salvatore," She curtosied, hoping it looked natural.

"Goodmorning...I was just...I was." He was saved from answering properly when a voice called,

"Elena, there you are."

Damon walked up to the two of them, clearly at ease. "I went to rouse you, but Maria informed me you had already left your room." He turned to Stefan. "Brother..."

"Damon." Stefan greeted, before turning down the hall, toward his own room.

Damon shook his head, as though to clear his thoughts. "Anyway, I figured since you were already up, we could go ahead and eat, get an early start."

Elena deliberated. "Um, sure, that sounds great." Then she remembered something. "You knew I was Elena?"

He looked at her confused, so she continued. "When you saw me standing here, you called my name...Elena. How'd you know it was me, and not Katherine?"

Understanding, Damon smiled. "Oh, Katherine hates horses, and you're wearing riding boots. Educated guess."

Elena smiled at the simple logic. "Oh alright then."

Just then the door behind them opened, and Katherine walked out. Her dress was lavender in color, and quite sophisticated in design. "Damon, I thought I heard you out here."

"Katherine...we were just heading down for breakfast."

She nodded, and he rushed to add, "Care to join us?"

"Of course, Damon, I would love an escort." Damon offered her his arm, then almost questioningly, offered one to Elena. She took it, ignoring the warning glance on Katherine's face. Damon walked them both down to the dinner hall. Mr. Salvatore was seated with a plate in front of him already, reading a letter of some sort. Damon pulled back a seat for each girl, and finally settled himself into the seat next to his father. Stefan joined them shortly after.

"Is everything alright, Father?" Stefan asked, noting his worried expression. Mr. Salvatore smiled politely. "Nothing to fret about over breakfast, Stefan. It's just word of another animal attack, one of the Fell's children this time." He gave a knowing look to both of his sons.

"This is the third attack this week." He continued to muse, "It wont be long before a course of action is taken against these...beast."

The last word fell uneasily, and Elena read the truth behind them. Vampires. And the town knew about it. No, this couldn't happen yet. If something happened to Katherine, her chances of getting home were slim to none.

Suddenly her toast wasn't sitting quite so well.

No more talk of the attacks was brought up though, and everyone finished up in silence.

Once Damon finished, he turned to her. "Almost through?"

She pushed back the uneaten part of her food. "Yes."

"Going somewhere?" His father asked, as Damon stood to come pull back Elena's chair for her.

"We are going riding, we'll be back before lunch."

Mr. Salvatore nodded. "See that you are."

Then Damon led her from the room, not bothering to look back on his brother and Katherine's parting glances.

"Wow, she's beautiful." Elena gasped, as Damon lead out a black and white paint.

"And she's by far the gentlest horse we've ever owned. You'll be safe with her."

Elena had to smile at his concern. This was a part of him she understood, the insane urge to be overprotective. He had already saddled the mare for her, and was finishing up his own black beauty.

Elena climbed up into the saddle. "Does she have a name?" She called to Damon.

"Star's Dust. And this here," He patted the head of the big animal next to him, "Is Mary's Pride." He turned to look at her. "You don't ride sidesaddle?"

Elena looked down. Crap, she'd forgotten the customs of this age.

"My balance isn't all that great," She smiled, changing the subject as he climbed onto his horse.

"So Mary's Pride, that's a bit..unusual."

He laughed at that, "Well he goes by Pride, but he was my mother's. Mary Salvatore. Father wanted to have him put down after her death, but I think I through quite the fit. Anyway, he's been mine ever since," He looked around, before turning back to her. "Okay, follow me, I know the perfect place." With that he took off, and Elena, laughing, followed.

They rode for an hour or so, through some woods, and over some country land, and Elena was shocked at the beauty of it all. Finally they reached the place Damon had been leading them to.

It was a slight clearing among some old ruins, but also next to a small lake, with a wonderful view. Damon got off his horse, then moved to help her. Once both feet were on the ground, she helped him tie up the horses, so they could graze for a while. Damon walked over to the water's edge and took a seat, where the ground slightly lifted, as not to get wet. Elena joined him, enjoying the weather. Once she sat down, she removed her shoes and layed back on the grass. And she was completely aware of Damon's eyes on her.

"What?" She asked curiously.

He smiled. "You're different, more layed back than I was expecting."

"Well you aren't exactly what I was expecting either Damon." She told him with a smirk.

He layed back on the grass with her. "I thought about what you said last night." He finally said.

"What do you mean?" She turned her head to face him, and he did the same.

"Just about how what Katherine is doing isn't fair, or right. I just...I just don't know how to stop feeling the way I do."

Elena sighed. "Not loving someone that you'd give up anything for is hard." She agreed.

"That's why I like you Elena, you understand."

She scoffed slightly, She doubted anyone could ever fully understand Damon Salvatore.

"Well, I try to," she said finally.

"I just don't think people should be allowed to be walked on. I mean, Katherine can do whatever she pleases, I really don't care, but still, it sucks having to watch."

Damon considered that. "She's cruel." he stated, shocking Elena. "But," he continued, "With her life she's earned that right. She may be selfcentered and spoiled, but she knows what she wants, and she knows she can have it. She's strong...so much stronger than any of us."

He trailed off, then changed the direction of his thoughts, "I just hate having to share her, you know. I just want her to want me. Just me. But she doesn't. It's always going to be Stefan. But if that's the case, I wish she'd just leave me be, to accept that and move on. But she doesn't. She says she loves me too, and I have to try and fight for her, if there is even the slightest chance."

Elena took in his words before phrasing her answer. "Damon, I wish you had that happiness. I do, but maybe you need to be the one to let go. Katherine doesn't seem the type to give up what she sees as hers, but that doesn't mean you have to be her lap dog, to call and command at will. Let Stefan do that."

Elena had no idea why she was saying these things. Perhaps she just wanted to spare him anymore pain. Like the pain of loving Katherine for another hundred years to no avail. Maybe Katherine did love him, but at the end of the day, it was going to be Stefan that she saves.

"I wish it was that simple Elena..." He whispered softly, letting his mind roam.

She decided to change the topic. "So what happened, to your mother, I mean, if you don't mind me asking."

He shrugged. "It was a long time ago. She died soon after having Stefan. The pregnancy and birth took a lot out of her, and she grew weaker that usual, and then the sickness just became too much."

"I'm sorry," Elena looked at him, reaching for his hand.

"I'ts okay," he smiled softly, looking back at her. "It was hard at first, but we faired okay. My father took it pretty bad, he drank a lot. At least we had Maria to look after Stefan and myself. She was pretty gracious."

"Still, it couldn't have been easy for you."

Again he shrugged, "I was more worried about Father. Stefan took after him, his demeanor, his looks, but I've always favored my mother. It was two solid weeks before my father could look at me again. I've often wondered if that's why Stefan's always been the favorite. But anyway, we all pulled through it, and are better for it."

Elena looked at his sad eyes, knowing that you never truly get over loosing your parents, no matter how much time passed.

"Well, I'm sure your father didn't mean to favor Stefan."

Damon sat up, pulling Elena with him. "Nah, it was just the fact that Stefan was younger, he needed more looking after, the bond was closer with them. I know my father loves us both equally, he can just show it easier to Stefan, I suppose he doesn't have to think of my mother everytime he talks to him."

"Did she look an awful lot like you?"

"Definately," Damon smiled. "She had the blackest hair, and the same color blue eyes. Even our face structure is similar. But she was a beautiful woman, everyone knew so. She married my father at a young age, and they were happy, as far as I remember."

"I suppose that's what's important," Elena pulled her shoes back on and stood to stretch. Damon stood with her.

"Yes, I suppose you're right." He walked over to untie the horses, allowing them a drink from the lake.

" Are we about to head back?" She asked him.

"Do you want to?" He relatiated.

She grinned a little, "Well, do we have to?"

He returned her smile, "I guess not. There are a few more places I can show you."

"Good, I'm not quite ready to go back yet. It feels lighter out here. Like I can be..."

"Free" They finished together, causing a laugh from each.

"Exactly...free." She told him.