Chapter 5: A simple thank you

Elena POV

Damon had our tire changed and us back on the road in no time. We were cruising at a good speed. My phone started vibrating.

Stefan:
"Careful Love. How close are you?'

"Is that Stefan checking in" Damon said sarcastically.

"Yeah" I replied staring at the phone numbly. "Do you know how far we are from New York?"

"It will be a while yet" he said "I was actually thinking we may want to find somewhere to sleep for the night"

"Yeah, That's probably a good idea I was considering offering to drive for a while but I'm pretty tired myself"

"Keep an eye out for motels then" He said

I replied to Stefan's message.
'Be another day. Stopping for the night'

My phone started ringing right after I sent it.

"Hi Stefan" I said

"Where are you stopping?" He said immediately

"I don't know.. we just decided. We are both pretty tired"

"Please be careful. You don't know the area you are in very well." His voice seemed panicked.

"Stefan, honestly. I survived a trip through underworld I think I can handle a trip to New York"

"I would just prefer if you made it into the city in a nice hotel where you will be safer" He said softening a bit.

"We aren't going to stop at some crappy hotel." I said rolling my eyes at Damon. He held back a laugh.

"Tell him we are just going to park in an alley and crash there" Damon said loudly laughing.

"Oh, he thinks he's really funny does he? This is your life we are talking about!" Stefan yelled.

"Stefan , please don't yell at me. I am fully capable of taking care of myself. Why are you treating me like child? You have always trusted my instincts before"

"I trust you Elena. It's him I don't trust" Stefan replied spitting out the "him".

"Stefan what is up with you?" I said feeling a little annoyed. "We will be fine. Call me when your in a better mood"

"I'm sorry Elena. I know I'm really edgy. I went months in that prison without feeding. It messed with my mind a little that's all. I love you so much. Please don't be angry with me for being protective of you"

I sighed. "I'm not angry Stefan, I lobe you too. I'll talk to you soon okay?"

"Okay. But soon my love. We need to discuss that thing we were talking about before we left"

"Not now Stefan. After we save the town" I replied crispy I did not want to bring up marriage to Stefan anywhere near Damon.

"Of course my love. Good night"

"Good night Stefan" I sighed as I hung up the phone.

"Everything okay" Damon asked quietly.

"Can we not talk about it?" I begged.

"I wish we could talk about it. But I will leave it alone right now" He said squeezing my shoulder.

"Thank you" I turned to gaze into his dark brown eyes. I was used to seeing mystery behind his eyes. But now I felt like I could see into his soul. He looked sad, worried and confused.

"What about you" I asked. "Are you okay?

"Honestly I don't now. I'm sacred now that I'm human. I don't know what my capabilities are. I know Stefan kicked my ass. I mean what if I can't protect you?"

"I think you will be like me" I answered "All humans have gifts they just don;' know how to use them. We can help you figure out how to tap into your gifts and find your power just like you helped me"

"Do you think it will work?" He asked

"I don't know but we should try" i said firmly "How are you handling this? Being human I mean. You seem tobe taking it in stride"

"At first I was really upset. But after spending the day with you today. Going to the mall eating fast food doing 'normal things'I don't miss it that much." He sounded suprised at his own words ".To be honest I don't think their is a vampire that wouldn't want a chance to be human again. It was the only thing I wanted after Katherine died. I hated what I was so much I chained up my soul and decided to be be the ultimate vampire. It was how I coped. It got to be where I was so numb to everything I was dead inside and now I'm alive again. I cant tell you how amazing the small things feel. like eating and drinking breathing ion the air feeling the sun on your skin."

"I know how that feels. I was only a vampire for a short time and a ghost after that. But being alive is a feeling like no other" I agreed

"The emotional stuff is hard though" He said thoughtfully " I don't know if it's because I'm human or because you freed my soul. But It's really tough dealing with all the things I never dealt with. Like thnking about my mother today. I noticed a group of teenager girls at the mall and thought about how a day ago I would have brainwashed one of them into giving me blood. It disgusted me and made me feel really guilty. It's confusing too. Sometimes I don't even know what I feel. I'm not even quite sure who I am anymore" He sighed slowly

"Your the same Damon you always were. Only now your not so angry and not quite as hard. But that's okay. I like who you have come to be" I said. I more then liked it but decided to keep that thought to myself.

"You really do? You don't think I'm to weak for you?"

"No, of course not, And you are not weak, You are emotional right now because you just started feeling every single emotion you have ever bottled up for over 500 years"

"There's motel. I'm going pull in" He said turning into the motel.

We quickly checked in we decided to share a room with twin beds. It was safer that way. But I think the truth I wasn't willing to admit was that I wanted to be close to him.

"Elena?" Damon asked once we were settled in to the room.

"Yes"

"Thank you" He said simply.

"For what?"I asked

"For freeing my soul." He said and started to cry.

I quickly rushed over to him. I figured this would happen eventually. He had so many things he had never mourned, never cried, never even dealt with at all. The only emotion he knew for so many years was anger. I held him against me and let him sob. I slowly stroked his hair and whispered that everything would be okay.

The entire world disappeared while I was holding him. The only thought in my mind was Damon. Comforting Damon. The room around us, my friends, Shinichi even Stefan they all just disappeared. I felt his pain as deeply as he did. I closed my eyes and pulled him closer. I started to cry with him.

We stayed like that for over an hour eventually we both stopped crying and just took comfort in the closeness of each other. Everything felt right in the world.

"Elena" he murmured into my hair "How can I ever thank you for all you have done for me, you are my redemption"

"No I'm not. You redeemed yourself"

I felt lighter somehow ridding all that emotion with him. He did too his eyes now looked more content and peaceful.

"We are going to have to agree to disagree on this Elena. You saved me like it or not you are my angel" He said sweetly kissing me on the cheek. The heat from his lips sent a shiver of excitement down my spine. My body begged for more. But out of sheer will power I manged to pull away

"I know we were gonna wait for a our second meal to be i the city. But I am starving" Damon said.

"Me too." I agreed "Should we order room service?"

"Sounds good to me, Eating as a human is so easy"

We ordered every appetizer on the menu and a bottle of wine. Damon wanted to try everything. Growing up he wasn't exposed to much food other then his mother's. It was fun watching him try everything.

"I really missed eating" he said in between bites.

"that's what I missed the most too" I agreed

"For the whole 2 weeks you were a vampire" He teased

I playfully swatted him. I was actually having a lot of fun with Damon. Now that we were out of the danger we were in in the underworld. We were really easy with each other. I felt more at ease with Damon then I ever did with Stefan, Damon is intense definitely, But Stefan is so intense all the time and lately even more so.

"Hey Elena where did you go" Damon said waving his hand at me.

"Just thinking" I said brushing it off.

"Elena I literally poured my soul out to you today. Please tell me what;s going on in that pretty little head of yours"

"I just. I don't know. I'm confused about Stefan. he seems different since he got back. More intense kind of scary"

"Scary how?' He asked looking concerned

"I don't know how to explain it. It's like he is being so protective and intense"

"My brother has always been intense"

"I know but more so... He always trusted me. Now I don't think he does anymore. and maybe he has a reason,. Because I don't know if I trust myself anymore either"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean...I" .. don't know if what I wanted before is what I still want. I'm just really confused" I looked down at me knees avoiding his gaze.

"Oh" He said quietly. "What is it you think you want instead?"

"Please don't ask me that Damon because I'm just not ready for this conversation." I replied

"I wont pressure you Elena. But just know that whenever you want to open your soul to me I am here and waiting. Always and whenever you need me. You don't even have to call my soul will find you"

I felt a single tear fall down my cheek at his words.