Elena:

Reaching over, I pull the curtain aside so I can look up at the sky. The sun is just beginning to set and the colors painting the sky are just beautiful tonight. Smiling, I drop the curtain and turn my attention back to my writing. I'm working on a sequel to my 'Damien Swain' novel. Little does Damon know, but Damien is actually an intrepid archeologist. With a plot beginning to form in my mind, I start writing, startled when I hear my bedroom door open.

"Hey girlfriend," Rebekah remarks, dropping onto the bed beside me.

"Hi. How was your date?"

"Don't ask. Everything was all about him, I mean, you talk about narcissistic. I had no idea that egos could grow that size," she laughs, shaking her head.

"I'm sorry it didn't work out."

"Eh, no worries."

I raise an eyebrow when she picks up my bottle of water, stealing a swallow.

Staring at her for a moment, I give her a playful nudge.

"Well Rebekah, I'm glad you're not too broken up about it."

"You're writing. Anymore 'Damien' in the works?"

I shake my head when she gives me a teasing wink.

"That's my intention, Bex."

"You sure? I mean, I know you like Damon. He might just go ballistic if you mock him further," she snorts, her laughter raucous.

"He was fun. I really didn't mean to mock him in a bad way, more like a fun way. I want to make the character sort of an Indiana Jones like guy, you know?"

"I do. So... do you have any plans to get to know him better? Maybe take that stallion for another ride?" she teases, raising her eyebrows at me.

"Rebekah, you have a one track mind," I utter, shaking my head. Feeling a shiver surge through my body, I lean in close to her ear, whispering, "I would like to take him again, believe me. The man is skilled in the bedroom."

"I knew it," she squeals, giving me a playful nudge in my ribs.

"But he's really pissed at me."

"Leave it to me."

I can see the wheels churning in that conniving mind of hers as we speak.

"Rebekah?!"

"Don't you worry, sweetheart. You get back to your writing, I have things to do."

She gets up from the bed, stopping at my bedroom door to give me another wink before stepping out, pulling the door closed behind her. Turning my attention back to my computer, I start to do a little more research on the 'Faberge Imperial Eggs." It doesn't take long for me to be completely engrossed in what I'm reading. Next thing I know, it's nearly eleven at night so I turn the computer off, take off my clothes and jump in the shower. Feeling a shiver when Damon fills my mind, I reach between my legs, stroking myself to completion, his name on my lips.


Damon:

"Bless you."

Lexi hands me a tissue when I sneeze for the umpteenth time.

"You should've stayed with me and Stefan the other night rather than walk home in a cloud burst," she chastises me, handing me yet another Kleenex when I cough up a wad of phlegm.

"I feel miserable," I utter, my voice nasally sounding because I'm so stuffed up.

"I'm going to run to the store to get you some cold medicine. Is there anything else?"

"Can you make me some of your homemade chicken noodle soup?"

"I can do that. Now get some sleep." Leaning over, she presses a kiss to my forehead.

"You have a fever too. Rest." Without giving me a moment to object, she takes away my lap top and powers it off.

"Hey, I was doing some research," I pout, crossing my arms.

"Research can wait. I expect you to be asleep by the time I get back and no argument."

"Fine," I concede, scooting down and pulling the covers up over me. The edges start to blur almost immediately, I barely hear the sound of the door closing before drifting off to sleep.

I take her face in my hands, and begin to ravage her throat with kisses and nips. When she hisses in pleasure, I feel my dick twitch, anxious to get it wet inside of her again. Taking control, she grinds her hips against my groin. Using my mouth, I latch onto one of her nipples, groaning against her now pebbled flesh when my cock begins to throb.

"Damon, please, I want you again," she murmurs, her voice husky.

"Makes two of us."

After rolling her underneath me, I sit up, tugging her legs up and over my shoulders. Growling at the perfection beneath me, her perfect pink flesh glimmering with moisture. God I can't wait to be inside of her, I think to myself. Sucking in a deep shuddering breath, I line myself up at her entrance and push inside, slowly and torturously.

"Sweet Jesus," I mumble at the way her molten hot and silky walls grab at my cock like a vise, one that I'd like to spend an eternity locked inside. With her mouth hanging open as moans escape, Elena raises herself onto her elbows, her eyes now focused on where we're joined in such an intimate way. Watching her watch us sends my heart into a tailspin, thrumming chaotically against my sternum. Unable to take my eyes off of her beautiful face, I continue to watch as the waves of ecstasy wash through her. For whatever reason it feels different with her. Dropping my own eyes, I too watch, exhilarated to be buried to the hilt inside of her exquisitely gorgeous body.

After taking another deep breath, I readjust her legs, wrapping them around my waist so I could push her deeper into the mattress with each thrust. Grunts leave my lips as I'm so deep inside of her body, I don't know where she ends and I begin. I'm euphoric with pleasure. Hearing nonsensical moans and words leave her lips, I slow it down to try to savor every moment that we're so intimately connected. When her nails dig into my sides, her body meeting me thrust for thrust, I know I can't hold back any longer.

Growling, I keep her pinned beneath me as I pump in and out of her repeatedly. Sensing my release nearing, I slip my hand between us and start stroking her clit with just enough pressure to send her spiraling out of control, her entire body jerking and wracked with spasms of endless bliss. Working hard to reach my own completion, I thrust harder and faster, finally spilling myself inside of her, screaming her name with rapture. The aftershocks continue, making my limbs weak, I just barely avoid crashing on top over her, rolling off to her side instead.

"Just wow," I pant. Turning onto her side, she looks at me, smiling softly as she runs her hands over my arm. I can't help but love how she wants to keep touching me.

Flying upright, needing air, I gasp and wipe the sweat from my brow.

"Fuck," I whisper, realizing that it was just a dream of that perfect night I spent with her. After taking a swallow of water, I lay back down, pull the covers over my head, and try to go back to sleep, my heart pounding at the realism of that dream.


Elena:

"You know how I hate these book signings Rebekah."

I'm a bundle of nerves as I anxiously pace the length of our living room, back and forth and back and forth.

"Elena, it'll be fine. I know you get anxious when you're in crowds but how else are you going to sell your books?"

"Thank you for being here with me. I prefer to be in my own little space unless I'm pretending. You know what I mean."

"I do know that. It's really strange how you can slip so easily into one of your characters yet when you are yourself, you tend to be a nervous Nellie," she says, zeroing in on the truth.

With a shrug of my shoulders, I sit on the edge of the bed and drop my face into my hands.

"I'm such a weirdo."

"No you're not."

"My parents were so embarrassed by my behavior that they practically kept me under lock and key except for school. It wasn't always that way. After I started school, the kids would tell their parents about 'crazy Elena', that's when they started getting both over protective and distant and keeping me under wraps, for lack of a better word. After all, they were pillars of the community and didn't want people speaking ill of them."

"Oh Elena," she says softly before continuing.

"From speaking to Jenna, she told me that you really blossomed when you went to live with her?"

"Yeah?"

Smiling, she comes to sit on the bed beside me and wraps me in her arms for a hug.

"She did instill some self confidence in me but it seems only my characters project that confidential air," I utter, dropping my shoulders in defeat.

"Just pretend to be one of your characters today. You can be such an enigma sometimes, Elena," she starts to say, raising her hand to silence me when I start to talk.

"That night you were with Damon in New York, you weren't playing a part, that was all you. Because my dear best friend, I know how strong you really are."

"Thanks Beks. I don't know where I'd be without you."

"And I don't ever intend for you to find out. Let's get you dolled up so we can go. It's a long drive into town," she says, standing up and pulling me along with her into the bathroom. Rolling my eyes, I follow along, grateful to have her in my life.


Damon:

"Damon, your WBC's are elevated and your chest X ray shows that you have pneumonia," Dr. Fell says, looking at me in the eye but because I'm so fatigued, I'm barely able to keep them open.

"Roll over, I'm going to give you a shot of Rocephin in the butt plus I'm going to prescribe some antibiotics for you to take at home. I'm also going to write a script for an Albuterol MDI in case you get short of breath. Stop at the drug store and get him some Mucinex too. He should take one twice a day."

Barely coherent, I nod although I don't have a clue as to what I'm nodding to. I feel her pull my sweat pants down, exposing one side of my butt. Although I want to shoot a witty retort at her, my brain just isn't synapsing enough to think of one.

"Ouch," I squawk, jumping slightly when I feel the needle go in. After she puts what I think is a bandage on it, I feel her pull the elastic waist band up so it covers my ass again.

"Lexie, he's pretty out of it. If he is still running a fever and or if he's still feeling so punk in a few days, take him to the emergency room so he can be admitted."

"Thanks Dr. Fell. I appreciate that you could see him on such short notice. It was like pulling teeth to get him to come though."

"No worries Lex. Get him home and into bed."

"I will," I hear my wife say. Just after hearing the exam room door close, I hear it open again. Before I know what's happening, Stefan is helping me to stand up. He practically carries me back to the car before laying me down in the back seat.

"I've never seen him so out of it except for when he's had too much to drink, Lexi."

I don't miss the concerned look that Stefan levels me with but I'm too loopy to give it much thought.

"He's never been this sick before. We'll have to try to keep him in bed."

"Like that will go over well," Stefan remarks, laughing.

"Oh hell no. He's pretty childish when he's sick but I think that's a common trait among men," Lexie scoffs.

Although I'm sure she's rolling her eyes right about now, I struggle to sit up, grabbing onto her seat from behind to help pull myself upright.

"What's going on?"

"Lay back down Damon. Dr. Fell said that you have pneumonia. You need to rest."

"Ric will kill me if I don't show up for class," I whine, falling back onto the seat with a thud.

"I'll talk to him. I'll teach your class till you're feeling up to it," Lexie adds, reassuring me.

"But you don't like to teach."

"No, I prefer the dirt and grime as much as you do but until you can find a new publisher, we'll have to keep doing what we're doing."

"Thanks Lex," I whisper, reaching up to cover my mouth when I need to cough. With my chest already aching like I've coughed up a lung, I continue to bark loudly, unable to cough anything up. As soon as Lexie pulls into the driveway, Stefan opens up the back door to help me inside and into my bedroom. Cold, I leave my tee shirt and sweat pants on when I crawl under the covers. Feeling my forehead, Stefan makes a remark about me still having a fever. Although my eyes are closed, I hear him close the curtains and then I hear the door shut just as I drift off to sleep.


Lexie:

"Is he asleep?"

"Yeah, I think he was asleep before his head hit the pillow," Stefan says, taking a seat at the kitchen table.

"As soon as I get this homemade chicken soup in the crockpot, do you want to come to the bookstore with me? I want to talk to them about having Damon do a book signing. He is a best selling author after all. Maybe we could get him some press then perhaps Mikaelson House will change their mind about publishing his newest manuscript?"

"That's a good idea. I'll come along. I owe Damon a lot. When mom and dad died, he and you too as far as that goes, took me in and raised me. I would've ended up in foster care if not for the two of you."

"Oh Stefan, he never would've let that happen. He loves you and so do I."

"I love him too but don't tell him," he says with a wink.

"Your secret is safe with me," I laugh, turning my attention back to the stove. Once I get the vegetables cut up and thrown in the crock pot along with the chicken, I wash up and then go to grab Stefan so we can be on our way.

"I'm just going to go leave a note on his bedside table so he doesn't worry about us," I tell him, running up the stairs.

Once I finish, I come back downstairs, grab my bag and the car keys and then the two of us leave for the bookstore. When we get there, I'm surprised to see a crowd. As we walk to the entrance, Stefan points out a sign announcing that Elena Gilbert is here today for her own book signing. Raising my eyebrows to Stefan, he chuckles then pulls the door open for me. Walking inside, we go to stand at the edge of the crowd and listen to Miss Gilbert takes questions about her book. The blonde who was with her in the pub that night is standing just behind and to the right of the table where Elena is seated.

My attention is piqued when someone in the crowd asks her if 'Damien Swain' is based on a real life person. Taken aback for a moment, she drops her eyes for a few seconds before raising them to the guest again.

"Yes, his is as a matter of fact. The man is very talented in his field and although I wanted his character to be fun and a bit aloof, he's really good at what he does. I hope I made that evident in my novel."

"Is this person someone whose name we'd recognize?" another guest asks.

"I actually had not heard of him till I started doing some research for this book. And then I read everything that I could find about him. In archeological circles, his name is well known," Elena replies, clutching one of her books in her hands.

"One more question as Miss Gilbert has another book signing this afternoon."

"Was it your intention to make him look like a jackass in your book?" I ask, curious to know.

"Oh no. I meant to mock him but in a fun way. It was never my intention to write him maliciously," she adds, her voice full of conviction. The bookstore manager announces no more questions but if people want their books autographed, they need to get in line. Once the crowd has dissipated, Stefan and I walk away to find the manager to discuss Damon's books with her. Just by happenstance, I turn around and watch as the blonde woman, Rebekah, I think, pulls Miss Gilbert into her arms, squeezing her in a friendly hug.

"I told you that you would do just fine, Elena."

"Thanks Bex. But we better get going. Hopefully I can do it all over again."

"That's the spirit," Rebekah remarks, linking her arm with Elena's as the two of them walk outside and disappear from sight.

After Stefan and I talk to the store manager, we leave happy because she was delighted at the opportunity to have Damon sign a few books. Truth be told, he is kind of reclusive to some extent. We have a small group of friends and family that we associate with, other than that, both of us are home bodies. Once Stefan and I get home, I go straight into the kitchen so I can check on my beef stew. I take the time to stir it up so it doesn't stick to the bottom.

After talking Stefan into making us some homemade dinner rolls to go with the soup, I go upstairs to check on Damon. Seeing how he's still sound asleep, I press a soft kiss to his forehead and then go back downstairs to join Stefan. Once we're done making buns and after they're in the oven, the two of us go into the living room to watch some TV. We're so involved in the movie we're watching, we don't even hear Damon lumbering down the stairs. He's bundled up in a my fluffy bathrobe and his own fluffy slippers.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like hell," he groans, dropping onto the couch beside me.

"I wanted to get up for awhile so I can sleep tonight," he whispers, his voice raspy and barely audible. After he lays his head on my shoulder, Stefan hands me a fleecy throw so I can cover him up. Stefan drops down on my other side, laying his head against me too. Rolling my eyes, I can't help but smile at how wonderful my life is surrounded by my two best guys.


Damon is a bit under the weather. :(

Thank you Eva so much for helping me with my stories. Love, respect and appreciate you so much.

And a big thanks to all of you who took the time to review. They really do mean a lot to me.

Chapter title: 'Never Been Any Reason' by Head East. It's a golden oldie.

I did post the final part of a two part sequel to 'RD&M'. It's called 'RD&M: Hunter's Song'. I love for you to give it a read and review.

Please have a look at my other stories in progress too. 'Tears in Heaven' and 'Angels Fall'.

Eva and I have started work on 'Nothing Left to Fear'. Lips are zipped though until it's closer to posting.

And please remember to *REVIEW*.

Stay safe and have a great weekend. Until next time.