Damon kissed Elena back; but only for a moment or two. His senses came back to him and he moved his lips away from hers. He turned his head and looked down at the wooden floor to escape her gaze. But Elena stayed quiet - tears were brewing in her doe eyes.

"I'm such an idiot." Elena simply said and stood up. "I better go." She continued and turned around. She grabbed her bag that she had discarded on the floor and started to walk towards the door.

"It's okay Elena." Elena paused but didn't turn around at the sound of Damon's voice. She didn't do anything. She just stood there. And waited for him to continue. "It's okay." He repeated as she started to turn around. "You're upset and you're drunk. Which, might I say, is a bad combination." Damon said and smirked in an attempt to at least make her smile. Which of course he succeeded in.

"I feel so stupid." Elena said and wiped a tear that fell down her cheek. Damon walked towards her and enveloped her in a hug where she was able to finally break down in his arms. Tears continually flowed down her face and sobs wracked her body in quick concession. "I shouldn't of done that, I'm so sorry Damon. I should of thought, but I didn't." She cried into his chest. Normally, Damon couldn't stand girls crying and especially crying on him. But Elena Gilbert wasn't a normal girl, so for her, he made an exception.

"Elena." Damon started. "Look at me." Elena slowly lifted her head off of Damon's chest. His hand slowly caressed her bruised cheek. She flinched as he was inspecting the damage the bastard had to do this fragile girl. "You've had a long day, your upset and your both emotionally and physically drained. Get some sleep and your mind will be clearer in the morning." Damon said and dropped his hand away from her cheek. Elena simply nodded and moved back towards the couch.

Damon then stepped in front of her and said "You really think I'm letting you sleep on the couch. No. Bed Elena. Now." He said firmly and pointed towards his bedroom.

"Damon, honestly, I don't mind." Damon didn't say anything. He kept his hand pointing at the door before finally she started to move in that direction.

"It's like speaking to a 5 year old." Damon said and chuckled as she made her way towards his bedroom.

"I heard that" Elena said and shut the door behind her.

Damon was wide awake the next morning. He had possibly only 3 hours sleep in total. His mind was wondering with the events that had happened during the night.

Elena had kissed him. He had kissed her back. And then he stopped. The hurt in her eyes was overwhelming for him. All that Damon wanted to do was grab her face and kiss her like his life depended on it. He wanted to kiss her and kiss her some more until air became a necessity for both of them.

On the other hand, Damon knew he couldn't think like that. He would never take advantage of her vulnerable state of mind. Even though it took all the strength to stop, he was glad that he did.

Once Elena had been tucked away in his bed, his mind wouldn't rest. He had to check up on her. He had to make sure she was okay. And on every occasion, she was.

When Damon opened the door to his bedroom where Elena was sleeping a fourth time, he couldn't help but admire her beauty. She was tucked away tightly underneath the covers - his covers. She looked so peaceful when she was asleep. She even had a gentle smile on her face which made Damon smile too. What was this girl doing to him?

At around 9am the next morning, Damon finally heard Elena start to stir. He quickly got up from the couch and made his way to his bedroom. He gently opened the door to find her awake and studying him closely.

Finally, she said "Good morning" which came out more like a whisper. Damon smiled and lay down on the bed next to her.

"How are you feeling?" He said and stroked her hair and then moved onto her damaged cheek. Elena covered her hand over his and smiled.

"Better." She said and then shifted her eyes away from his. "I'm sorry about last night."

"You have nothing to be sorry about." Damon said and ran his thumb over her hand.

"Yes I do. What I did..." Elena paused. "I shouldn't of done it. I feel like I've ruined everything between us."

Damon chuckled and then said "I'm just surprised that you even remember it." Elena giggled and then slapped him across his chest.

"I wasn't that drunk." Elena said and laughed. Damon just shrugged and laughed along with her. "But honestly Damon, I'm sorry."

"Elena, stop saying that your sorry." Elena then started to apologise once more before Damon cut her off by saying "You look hungry." That, Elena couldn't disagree with. Damon had already thrown the covers off of her and pulled her up to a standing position. Before she knew it, or protest, they were out of the bedroom, into the kitchen and making pancakes.

"Pancakes shouldn't be eaten for breakfast." Elena said while she watched Damon slave over her breakfast.

"Any chance of help?" Damon asked and motioned her towards the stove.

"No way. Us Gilbert women have been cursed for eternity with bad cooking and setting things on fire. Trust me." Elena said. "My mom couldn't cook. I get it from her." This made Damon halt in his steps. It was the first time that Elena had actually talked openly about one of her parents. Elena had quickly mentioned in one of their first conversations that her parents were dead, but she'd never elaborated on it further and he never pushed her too. It was her life and her choice whether or not she should share such details.

"Oh no?" Damon asked.

"Jenna told me that my mom once set our kitchen on fire." Elena giggled but her smile soon turned into a sad smile. Damon knew what was coming, even if she'd never told him herself. "I don't remember them. My parents, I mean." Elena continued. "When I woke up in the hospital after the crash, the doctors had diagnosed me with Amnesia. They said that I will remember everything eventually, but it's just frustrating, you know?" Damon didn't say anything. He looked at her with sad eyes. He knew how much this was hurting her. "I just want to remember them and remember the memories we had together."

"You will Elena."

"People treat me differently since the crash. I'm now known as "The One Who Lived" or some crazy shit like that. It sounds as if I'm out of Harry Potter or something. Sometimes." Elena paused, forming the words on her lips before she said them. "Sometimes I wish that I died too. So I wouldn't have to witness people stop in the middle of their conversations when I walk into the room or have people point at me when I walk down the street."

Damon walked slowly towards her and wrapped his arms around her in a comforting embrace. A hug that told her that everything will be okay.

"Don't you dare give up, you hear me." Damon ordered and Elena wiped the tears that were flowing down her cheeks.

"I hear you." Elena said and hugged him once more. She felt safe in his arms, like no one would ever bring harm to her while he was around. She felt protected and somewhat strong. Stronger than she'd ever felt. She would keep fighting. For her parents, for Jenna, for Jeremy, for Caroline and for Bonnie. But also for Damon. She would fight for Damon and she would fight for happiness that she had longed for.


"Jenna's going to kill me." Elena said as she walked up the steps towards her front door with Damon right beside her.

"No she won't."

"Oh she will. It's a small town Damon. Word gets around very quickly when I get drunk and start wondering around."

"So that happened before?" Damon asked sarcastically. Elena giggled.

"Once or twice maybe. It's called rebellion Damon."

"Ah." He simply said and halted in front of the Gilbert family door. Elena opened the door and made herself known that she was there.

"Hello?" She shouted and they both immediately looked at the top of the stairs where Jenna appeared a few moments later.

"Elena. Where the hell have you been? I've tried calling you and texting you for hours."

"Jenna, I'm so sorry."

"Where were you?" Jenna impatiently asked.

Damon took a step forward and began the explanation that he and Elena made up on the short car drive there. "We were watching a movie at my apartment and she fell asleep. I didn't want to wake her. I'm sorry Jenna, it was my fault. I should of let you know she was safe." Elena looked up at Damon and he gave her a soft smile.

Jenna looked at both Damon and Elena before nodding. Elena let out a breath she didn't realise that she was holding. Damon said his goodbye's and then left the Gilbert house. She waved goodbye to him from the door and slowly turned around to face her aunt. Elena knew that Jenna wasn't done with her rant so she looked as apologetic as she possibly could.

Jenna took a step forward and enclosed her niece in a tight embrace. "I was so worried about you Elena." She said. "If something had happened to you..." Jenna paused momentarily obviously thinking the worst before she continued "I would never have forgiven myself." Jenna brought her hand down the stroke the side of Elena's face, gently catching her bruise that was now invisible due to the amount of make-up Elena had applied earlier that morning. Elena held in a hiss and smiled as best as she could.

"I love you so much Jenna. And I'm so sorry. I really am."

"Just promise me you won't do that again." Jenna replied and hugged her once more.

"I promise."


Hey guys,

So this chapter is probably the worst so far in terms of quality of the writing. I just couldn't seem to finish it at all. So I'm not happy at all about the way this chapter has turned out but I honestly couldn't bear to delete it all and re-write it for a 6th time so this would have to do.

And I'm sorry for the lack of updates lately. I've had no inspiration to write but I finally know where this story is going so that's a plus.

I've also got more stories lined up so I might start writing another Delena fanfiction soon but also continue writing this one, I haven't quite decided yet.

So please leave your thoughts about this chapter in a review.

You can write a review even if you haven't got a fanfiction account so please go ahead and write one!

Thank you all so much and I'll update again soon!

Lots of love,

Emma :)