Author's note: I don't own Vampire Diaries or its characters. R&R.
~Elena's POV~
I woke up to the sun peeking beneath the curtains. It took me a moment to recognize that I wasn't in my own bed and another to realize I was in Damon's bed. Instantly I was trying to sort through last night to figure out how I ended up in his bed. I remembered showering and getting dressed. Then I was sitting on the bed brushing my hair when I decided the pillows looked very welcoming. The famous last thought I'll just put my head down for a minutelead to me falling asleep. That minute must have turned into all night, although I faintly remembered Damon bringing me some blood and waking me up briefly. The thought of blood made me hungry and I moved to get out of bed when a snore brought my attention to the other side of the bed. I turned to see Damon fully clothed sprawled on top of the covers, apparently snoring as he dozed. It wasn't a loud snore but I was fairly certain I could have heard it from anywhere in the house with my new sensitive hearing. I had never heard him snore before but it made me smile to know he had such a human flaw. Taking a minute to watch him while I decided whether or not to wake him, I noticed a few pieces of his black hair hung in his eyes and he looked very peaceful.
The rhythmic snoring suddenly stopped and a smirk distorted his peaceful features. "You were faking." I accused.
"I didn't think it would take so long for you to try to wake me." He paused "actually I thought you would toss me out the moment you saw me." he pouted slightly at the thought.
I frowned and looked down to study my hands. I was sad that he thought I would react poorly to his presence after his support last night. "Why would you think that?" I really wanted to know and hoped for a serious response.
"I don't know, maybe because despite last night I know you don't want me in that way and as soon as you get your head on straight you'll run back to Stefan." He was a little bitter but I couldn't blame him. I had put him and his brother in an impossible tug-a-war.
"Oh." It was the only response I had because as much as I wanted to dispute what he said, I just didn't know how.
"See, it's true you still don't know what you want." For a moment I thought he was right but then his voice echoed through my mind You want a love that consumes you, it had been true then and it was still true and then I heard my own voice When I'm with Damon it consumes me.It's like the memories lit the path I had been heading done and it became clear that I was in love with Damon. I smiled because for once I knew, without a doubt, what I wanted and it gave me the confidence to make a move.
"Actually, you're wrong I know exactly what I want." With that I rolled so I was straddling Damon and put my face inches above his.
Damon looked completely startled but he quickly recovered "And what do you want Elena?" I could see fear and hope commingling in his eyes.
I leaned forward so that my lips were almost brushing his ear "I want a love that consumes me." pulling back to see the shock in his eyes before adding "I want you Damon."
Despite my intention to lean down and kiss him, I suddenly found myself on my back pinned beneath his body. I could see that he wanted to kiss me but something was holding him back.
~Damon's POV~
I'm fairly sure I was dreaming. She had just said "I want you Damon." I barely had time to respond before she was dipping in for a kiss but I needed to ask the few stupid questions that could ruin everything. In a flash I had rolled us over and had pinned her down. Whether I liked the answers or not I needed to be sure.
"Elena, I want you too. I love you, you know that..." her face softened from the shock of our movement. "But I need to know. Why now? What about Stefan?"
I felt her relax and let out a slow breathe "Now, because it finally makes sense. You said it when we first met me 'You want a love that consumes you.' and you were right. I was clinging to Matt then because I was scared of the unknown. Then I met Stefan and I thought I loved him and I do love him, I'm not in love with him. He isn't that love that consumes, but you are. Loving you is dangerous and unpredictable and thrilling but it is also safe and warm. I'm not really sure if that makes sense..." She trailed off for a second while trying to find the right words and I waited patiently. "I love you Damon and I'm in love with you. I know it won't always be perfect but that's part of the thrill. I love that you don't always try to make it perfect but you try to make it real." I thought she was done and my heart was pounding. I wanted to kiss her and tell her that I loved her too but I waited a minute to make sure she was done which she wasn't. "As for Stefan, I do love him but not in the same way I thought I did. Yes I will always care about him but I don't want to be with him. But I also don't want to come between the two of you. I think I need to make it clear to him that I am moving on but I'm scared of losing him as a friend and as your brother. I'm scared of pushing him over the edge." With that she let out a breathe that signaled she was completely done.
As much as I wanted to kiss her I knew I needed the reassure her first. I sighed and ran a handle through my hair "He'll need time but I think he will be fine. I'm scared of losing him too but I think he will come around. If he can recover from out century and a half of discord I think he can handle this. What do you want to do?"
"I want to talk to him before it becomes obvious that I've chosen you." I nodded in response to her plan. "He's home." she added as we both heard the front door close. We heard him enter the parlor and I knew I had limited time left alone with Elena. 'I love you' she mouthed and added a small smile. I lost my last bit of restraint as my lips crashed against hers. She didn't protest, in fact she parted her lips so that my tongue could caress hers. Her hands were in my hair and she was moving beneath me.
I had just started kissing along her neck when she went completely still and her arms fell limply from my hair. I looked at her concerned that something was wrong until I heard what had stopped her. Stefan was slowly climbing the stairs. She tried to convey her apology with her eyes before whispering in my ear "I have to tell him first." I understood. As much as I wanted to see the priceless look on his face it wasn't worth the damage.
~Elena's POV~
I extracted myself from his embrace and the bed before straightening myself out. I was intending to go talk to Stefan now, I figured the sooner the better, however as I approached the door I became conscious of the fact I was still wearing Damon's clothes and his scent was thoroughly wrapped around me like a cocoon. On second thought I decided another shower, clean clothes (of my own) and blood were all needed before I could face Stefan. I told Damon as much, without mentioning Stefan.
"Go shower. When you're done there will be clean clothes and a mug of blood waiting for you." He stood up, placed his hand on my cheek and kissed my forehead. His hand continued to caress my check and he smirked at the warning glare I gave him. We could both hear Stefan in his room quietly playing a record; I suspected he was brooding about last night. Finally with one last peck Damon disappeared.
I started towards the bathroom but had barely taken a step when I was confronted with Stefan. He must have been waiting for Damon to leave. "Are you choosing him?" It was clear who he meant and I was naive to think he hadn't known.
"Yes." I said it with my new found conviction about what I wanted. He nodded and turned to leave. "Stefan please let me explain." When he turned back around I saw the full force of the pain I had caused on his face. I considered letting him just go, but I thought he should hear what I had to say. "I love you but I'm not in love with you. I want both and at some point I fell in love with Damon. It has taken me a long time to realize what I really wanted." I paused, "Stefan I've been afraid of coming between you and Damon, and afraid of losing the one I didn't choose. I know you might need time but I still want to be friends." I almost choked at how cliché my words sounded but I meant them.
He took a moment to process what I had said before nodding "I'm going away for a while but I will comeback. Please tell Damon I said Good bye." and with that he vanished. I was worried about him; however I was glad he had agreed to comeback. On vampire time that could mean 5 days or 50 years but we hopefully had that time.
~Damon's POV~
When I arrived at the Gilbert house I more than just Jeremy, the less vampy members of our strange circle seemed to be having a meeting. Instead of going through Elena's window I clicked the brass knocker on the front door. Bonnie was the one who answered "Hello" I smiled to which Bonnie frowned.
"How's Elena?" She skipped past the greetings, then folding her arms she blocked the doorway clearly not wanting me to enter.
"Look I know I'm not your favorite person but I need to get Elena some clothes, unless you want her wandering around naked. Which come to think of it might be nice, so never mind I'll be on my way now." I smirked at the annoyed look on her face.
"Fine. I'll pack her a bag. Does she need anything besides clothes?" she responded impatiently.
"I don't know, whatever you think would make her comfortable." I debated confronting her about whatever she was trying to hide when I caught Elijah's scent. "What are you up to?"
"Working out the details of my plan." She said in a matter of fact way that implied the conversation was over.
"With Elijah. If your plan includes Elijah then it's not a plan, it's just stupidity." I spat the words out.
Like a Demon, Elijah was summoned by his name. "Hello Damon. May I start by saying sorry for Rebecca's poor behavior but as I understand it, things have worked out alright." As unwise as it might be to attack an original, I went for him.
"Turning Elena is in no way alright." I growled as my hand circled his throat and I slammed him into the stairs. A split second later there was a pain in my head that felt like someone repeatedly chopping into my head with an axe. I glared at Bonnie knowing she was the source and released Elijah.
Elijah stood and brushed himself off. "I should be going." He bowed to Bonnie and then turned to me. "I know it is not alright but it is better than her being dead. I'm sorry." With that he left.
Bonnie released me once Elijah was gone, which was followed by Jeremy and Matt bumbling into the foyer. "What's going on?" Matt inquired whilst glancing between Bonnie and me.
"Nothing, Bonnie is just up to her usual idiocy." I growled.
"I'm going to ignore that and go pack for Elena." She had already pushed past me to the stairs and ascended.
I moved to lean against the banister to wait, while Matt and Jeremy seemed at a loss for what to say. "So when did they let you out?" I nodded towards Matt.
"Bonnie picked me up this morning." Matt's response left an awkward silence.
"And how's your wrist?" I directed at Jeremy, trying to make small talk.
"A little sore but fine." His reply was followed by more awkward silence.
"So what's the witch up to?" I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.
"You'll find out at 11:30 when we get to the boarding house." Bonnie's voice came from the top of the stairs. She tossed a medium purple duffel at me, which I caught easily.
"Fine but if it relies on trusting Elijah it's not a plan." I reiterated and vanished. I was worried I had taken too long and that Elena would be wondering where her clothes were.
As I opened the front door on the boarding house I was faced with, a duffel laden Stefan. "Where are you going?" I inquired.
"We had a deal and she chose you." It was a simple answer but it explained a lot more. I realized he must have confronted Elena before she could talk to him. I glanced up the stairs and hoped she was alright. "She's fine, a little upset but she'll be fine." Stefan answered my unspoken question.
"You don't have to go." I told him and truly meant it.
"Yes I do, I'm not mad, I just need some time." His voice held the shadows of defeat.
"I'm sorry Brother. Are you sure you don't want to stay and hear witchy's plan?" I hoped that maybe he would stay for the action.
"No, if you need me you'll be able to reach me." He left before I could reply. I was surprised that I felt slightly lost with him gone, I was certain that I would miss him but I hoped he would come back in time.
Author's note: So I really want to know what you all think of the story so far, so please review. Also there will obviously be some fluff and maybe a lemon coming shortly :)