Disclaimer: I still own nothing.

AN: Thank you for all those who have started to follow my story, or have provided PM's and reviews. They are truly appreciated.

The next couple of days began to slow down from the overall confusion that had been the norm for the first day. Eventually, Elena and Stefan were able to track down Bonnie. While she was relatively secretive about her whereabouts she was more than willing to provide a daylight ring for Elena.

Elena had been initially concerned about what Bonnie's reaction to having yet another friend taken into death's embrace. However, she appeared to be almost apathetic regarding the whole thing.

"Elena, it was only a matter of time before it happened. Although, I would have to say that I thought it would be a few years down the road." Bonnie said cryptically, but Elena wouldn't push the matter further.

She knew that for her part it was difficult to loose both of her best friends to vampirism. While they were not truly dead. She knew that a part of her that was similar to Bonnie was gone forever. She first noticed it the moment Bonnie entered the room to give her the daylight ring.

Elena had made sure to go hunting before she arrived, but despite that not only the sound of Bonnie's heartbeat, but also the intoxicating aroma overwhelmed her the moment she entered the room . She knew that this smell could only be one thing, and that was the thing that she now desired above all else. She knew that it was blood...human blood.

For her part Elena was able to maintain long enough to give Bonnie a heart felt hug. She knew that if Bonnie was going to trust her with the ring then she would have to earn that trust. Part of that trust would be able to calm herself around humans.

"Thank you so much for the ring. It really is beautiful, where did you get it."

For that part Bonnie was evasive knowing that if the truth of where the ring came from would start a confrontation between the two Salvatore brothers. While she may have had a strong dislike of the elder brother that often times bordered on hatred. She knew that Elena was the one person that he would do anything for no matter the consequence. She also knew that while Stefan would always be a good match for Elena, and that he was safe. When Bonnie thought about Stefan in terms of her and Elena; Stefan was the safe choice. She knew that he would never push her into anything that would do her potential harm.

Then there was the elder brother's relationship with Elena. The only way she could describe the pair would be "fire and ice" they were both opposite forces of nature. That when they came in contact with each other it was as if a hurricane was created in their wake. She knew that Damon would always push her. He was drive her to be better than the previous. It was this fire that consumed both of them that she worried most about. Together, they could be a force for good or a force for evil. She was just never sure which it would be at any given time. As Bonnie gave her goodbye's she assured Elena that she would be by tomorrow, and keep her company.

With her daylight ring firmly attached to her hand she began to wonder the parts of the house that had been off limits due to the painful effects of the sun the previous day. It was as was moving through the house that she began to smell an intoxicating fragrance. At first it was subtle then it hit her like a freight train. With her heightened sense of smell she followed it to the library where she saw sitting in a high back chair reading a book Damon was sipping on a crystal glass; which given the smell and coloring of the liquid contained within was blood. Not just blood, but human blood.

"Can I help you Elena?" Damon said not bothering to hide his smirk.

"I um…"

"Would you like something to drink? Perhaps just a taste?" Damon said as if his voice was a fine silk.

Damon stood and took a side long sip of the life giving liquid, and began to stalk towards Elena who for her part was mesmerized not only by the odor that was permeating from the glass only a few feet away, but also from the figure standing before her. She had always harbored some attraction towards the Salvatore "bad boy". However, it was in that moment that she really began to take in his appearance. It was as if her senses were on fire again just like the first day that she had awoke from her deathly sleep.

As her eyes began to roam up the athletic form that was Damon Salvatore. She couldn't but notice as she reached his face that his face was nearly flawless. She couldn't help but smile as she moved her eyes away from his moist lips slightly stained with blood to her his icy blue eyes.

Then in a moment that she would later understand she was assaulted with a series of images that passed far to quick for her to understand, but she was suddenly struck with words and phrases.

". . . A love that consumes. . ." she said absently as moved her hands to her mouth.

"Elena, why don't we go hunting?" Stefan said breaking the pair from their pointed gazes.

Elena could only nod slightly as she as her mind was racing trying to make sense of the new images and words that were flooding her conscious. As the pair padded out to the forest. Elena's mind was swimming with questions.

Damon for his part recognized the internal struggle that was playing across Elena's soft features. His first impulse was to reach out towards her, and provide her the comfort that he knew that she needed. However, despite this deep desires to reach and embrace her. He understood that now was not the time.

He was beginning to notice the signs of a vampire loosing control. Damon understood better than most that vampire's were a predatory species, and that by trying to change their nature you were only delaying the inevitable.

If Elena was going to live as a vampire, and avoid the guilt that accumulated early in their lives when they lack the control not to kill their human victims. Then she would have to start learning about how to satisfy that need for the hunt; while also learning how to derive pleasure from their life.

One of the reasons that Stefan was so effective with Blondie was that her most base human emotion was a overwhelming need to exert control in all aspects of her life. This demeanor as vampire was amplified, and is what eventually allowed her to control her thirst. Elena was not that person. It was her compassion that was her driving force, and would also be her undoing as a vampire. The guilt that she would feel could drive her to turn off her emotions.

Damon knew that he could not allow that to happen. He would have dig deep and find the courage to look past his feelings for Elena, and he would have to teach her not how to suppress her vampiric nature like Stefan would have her do. Instead, he was going to have to teach her how to live and derive pleasure from her life as a vampire.

While Damon thought ruefully on how to teach Elena on how to control her abilities as a vampire. Elena's thoughts were not far from his own. She may have chosen Stefan, and even chosen to live as he did, hunting animals instead of humans. While she was adamant that she did not want to kill a human. She knew that something was missing. She wasn't sure what it was that was missing, but she somehow understood that it involved the other Salvatore brother.

As she finished her last kill she looked up at Stefan, who for his part looked at her with a mixture of pride, love, and even uncertainty. She wasn't sure why he looked at her like that more often now than when was still human. She had believed that when she chose him that their relationship would return to the simple symbiotic nature that it once had before when they were just Stefan and Elena.

Now their lives were something else entirely. She had always understood that things would change between them. She just wasn't sure why or how the change had occurred without her knowing about it. In the past when she would look upon Stefan she could only see the goodness and love that made her feel so safe when around him. Now she looked at him and she still felt a sense of love, but the safety and passion that had once been there was lost. If she was being completely honest with herself. She would've realized that any hope of having that life left when he had threatened to drive her off Wickery Bridge in his quest for vengeance.

As and Stefan trudged back to the boarding house she was suddenly filled with anticipation. She had hoped that perhaps she would catch a glimpse of Damon. She wasn't sure if it was the fact that he was offering her human blood, or if it was something else that was drawing her to him. It was as if there was something that she was trying to remember. It was bubbling just beneath the surface waiting for her to remember.

Once they returned Elena retired to bathroom to take a hot shower. While Stefan told her that he had some something to give her that he said would help her in understanding why her choice was so courageous. When she got out of the shower she put on a simple cotton dress that while it was comfortable but still gave her sex appeal in her innocence .

When Stefan returned from upstairs, he held in his hand a leather bound book; which she immediately recognized as one of his many journals. She had in the past read through one of his journals in the past at the urging of Damon when they were tracking him in their attempts to help him escape.

"I want you to read this it will help you understand why I made the choice to not feed on humans."

"You can just tell me you know. I really don't have to read your private thoughts."

"Well, that's the thing if I were to just tell you I would try to hide aspects that I want to repress. Its really better you read for yourself." Stefan said as he handed her the journal.

"I've got to run some errands in town. I should be back tonight. I have to make sure that our tracks were covered, and that you are still invisible to the council." Stefan said as he leaned in to give me a subtle kiss.

As Elena read the musty pages she was began recognize the very bloodlust that was coursing through her at very moment. It was strange that despite all of the control that she has seen Stefan use in the past that he could be so lost to the blood. It was almost frightening. She had seen Stefan when he had stopped feeding on human's loose control, and wondered if that was what would happen to her if she got a taste of human blood. She sat there with a confused and pensive face.

"The answer to your question is yes." Damon said as he lounged against one of the bookshelves.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" She said slightly annoyed that he was watching her and that she still could not tell when he came into the room.

"On wither or not you could loose control like my 'dear' brother does on occasion." Damon said smirking.

"Well, it doesn't matter. I'm not going to feed on human blood. I should be able to do it." Elena said sounding less sure of herself with every word she uttered.

"It's not wrong to want to drink it. It's how you become stronger, and it is the best way to avoid killing innocents."

"How can you say its ok to drink human blood. I mean look at what Stefan…"

"Stefan never could learn to control himself. He will never be able to unless he begins to understand that there is no reason to feel guilty. In fact if he would embrace the idea that to feed we don't need to bring pain, and instead can bring unimaginable pleasure then perhaps he wouldn't have to slaughter bunnies."

As Damon finished his lecture he couldn't help but find himself stepping closer. The words leaving his mouth were barely said above a whisper as he closed the chasm that was between him and Elena.

"Damon…" She said unsure as to why she was feeling so breathless.

When she opened her eyes he was gone. She at first thought she had dreamt the entire exchange. Only to hear his voice call out to her once again.

"Well, are you coming." Damon said with slight smirk.

"Where are you wanting to go." Elena said trying not to smile back.

"To give you adventure and… a little danger."