Ugh, I'm so sorry! I keep slacking with my updates. But hopefully we're on track again... I'm getting so caught up in the amazing fanfics on here! Really, they're amazing! Gives me inspiration to write, write, write. Which is what I'm doing. Here's another special chapter via Damon.

I also wanted to personally thank everybody that reads this. While other fics have over a hundred reviews, I get excited to see less than twenty. As long as you tell me you're still interested, I'll keep writing. Thank you so much to every single one of you that enjoys my story. Truly.

In other news... 2 DAYS UNTIL THE VAMPIRE DIARIES SEASON 3!

I can't make you love me if you don't.

You can't make your heart feel something that it won't.

I can still hear her screaming. I can still feel her pounding on my chest; each blow another internal wound on me. On second thought, that was a little dramatic. But I did what I had to do. I had to keep her safe. Her voice pierced through my soul. Her sobs. Her tears, falling from her face as she looked at me as if I had just betrayed her.

Bonnie was still unsure whether or not she wanted to do this. I growled at the witch. "Elena needs to be kept away from Stefan. No matter what he says, no matter what he does – he needs to stay away."

She sighed. "I know.. I just...It's hard."

I poured myself a glass of bourbon. "Get over it, Bonnie. We need to be sure of this..unless, of course, we want to find Elena with her throat ripped out."

"Would he do that?"

"Do you think he would?" I raised my brows at her.

Remembering seeing Stefan in Mystic Falls, Bonnie remained silent. From the basement, Elena's cries filled the loud silence between Bonnie and I. Her tone was torturing me.

"Damon! You can't do this! YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" I could hear her pounding on the metal door. I could hear her tiny fingers grasping the metallic bars with as much strength as she could manage. "Damon! Please! Please! We need to find Stefan! He's here! Please, Damon! Damon? Let me out! Let me out! Let me..." her words were caught in a choked cry. She was literally crying until she could not manage any words. Until she couldn't scream anymore. Until she couldn't think anymore.

And eventually, until she couldn't stay awake anymore.

Bonnie remained with me until Elena finally drifted away from reality. The witch's company sure as hell wasn't the best, but it was nice to have someone distract me from going down there, taking Elena into my arms, and whispering apologies.

"Are you sure you're taking her somewhere safe?" Bonnie asked for the hundreth time. I groaned, leading her down to the basement.

"Anywhere away from Stefan is the safest she'll be." Bonnie still didn't look convinced so I caught her eye. "I'll take care of her."

This, I realized, she seemed to believe. Nodding to me, she opened the metal door where Elena slept not-so-peacefully. In her slumber, her normally angelic expression was distressed. I wish I could soothe her. Instead, I picked her up in my arms and began carrying her out to my waiting car. Her luggage was packed – who knew how long we'd have to hide away. It fell over me with a sick realization that I was leaving my brother. Here he was, right in my lap, and I was throwing him away. He needs my help. Don't worry, brother. I'll save both of you. I think as I look down at my Elena's face.

After placing Elena in the car and shutting the door, I looked at the witch. She looked...afraid. "I'll be back to deal with Stefan.. try to keep him in Mystic Falls. If you can't, it's fine."

She nods and doesn't say anything. Before I know it I'm standing alone because she returns to her car and drives away. I wonder how far I should distance Stefan and Elena. No doubt this is what Stefan came back for: her. He wanted her to embrace him and tell him how much she loves him. But she won't do that. I know her, now. I know that she would be terrified to see Stefan like this monster. A ripper. I have to distance her. I have to.

And so I do, taking her out of state. It's a long drive, but worth it, and when Elena wakes up she is all too happy to find out where she is.

"We're where?" a hiss escaped her mouth.

"Almost in New York." I smirk a sideways glance at her. She stares at me furiously. Cute.

"Damon what the hell are you doing? Stefan's home! We can help him. I don't know what you're trying to prove by taking me off on a road trip."

I almost laugh. "Sweetheart, this is for your safety. Stefan's going on a rampage back in Mystic Falls."

"All the more reason to go! We can talk to him."
"Yeaaaah..I don't think he wants to talk to anyone."

Elena slams her fists on the seats like an angry kitten. "Dammit, Damon! You were willing to take me along to find Stefan but as soon as we find him you run with me in the other direction?"

I exhale throughout my nose. She's so irritating sometimes. "Yes, Elena. Precisely."

"Then why would you ever agree to taking me to find him in the first place?" She presses. "Did you plan to dump me off in some random town and continue searching by yourself? Or did you just think that in the process I'd fall in love with you and forget all about Stefan?"

I grip the steering wheel. "What? You think that's my master plan? Get a grip, Elena."

For a moment, when I catch her eye, it seems as though she wants to take her words back. But Elena is still Elena. Meaning that even if she wants to take them back, she won't.

"Well..what the hell IS your plan, Damon? Take me back."

"No."
"Damon! Take. me. Back! Please." The 'please' gets lodged in her throat and I almost swerve the car off of the nearest cliff. Jesus Christ. I can't take this. I can't take the begging, the cries, the whining...

At last, I sigh, "I'm sorry, Elena. But this is for your own protection." Tears fall down her face as she stares at me in awe. Remember, Damon, this is for the best. For her safety. Keep her safe. You need to keep her safe. The silence between us is awkward and uncomfortable. She doesn't speak and neither do I.

Not for a very long time.

Elena Gilbert

I was staring out the window, watching the trees and houses pass the highway. I didn't know how fast we were going and I did not care. The feel of my body being forced back into the seat was a reminder that I am still alive. I am still able to die. Quite dramatic, I think, but I can't let Damon get the best of me. It's been three hours since our fight and it's been two hours since we stopped to check in at this beautiful hotel called Libre. Not a very nice name – I think it means something in french – but the inside was stunning. Our room was a beautiful golden with clean sheets and spotless floors. The bathroom was a brilliant marble with an extra deep bathrub. I knew what I'd be doing tonight: taking a long, hot bath.

So I did, which is where I am now, pondering my thoughts. The bubbles are soothing and would you believe it if I told you that I even lit two vanilla-scented candles? With the lights off, I just sit in the water and relax.

I can't deny that there is a strange ache in my chest that longs for Damon. I haven't heard his voice in over five hours. It's so painful. Despite how badly he pissed me off and betrayed me, I still need him. He's my clutch. He's the reason why I haven't gone off of the deep end. Biting my tongue finds useful – especially now when all I want to do is invite him in here and hum a melody to me. A sweet melody. A reassuring melody.

I think of Stefan. What is he doing right now? Is Bonnie OK? Caroline? What about Jeremy? I feel so..so...lost. Damon didn't bring my phone – but he brought his. Maybe I could...no, forget about it. He'd never let you near his phone. Maybe when he fell asleep tonight? Surely that would work. My mind flashes back to Bonnie's dramatic confession: "They're in Mystic Falls."

"What? He's .. here? Stefan's here?" I frantically search Damon's face for any shock or emotion. Anything at all; but it's blank. His eyes are focused on Bonnie. "Bad? What's Bad?"

Damon looks at me and struggles for words. "Elena he's not...better. He's still ripping."

I swallow. "But this is good, right? We can help him." My arm reaches out to grip Damon's bicep. "We can get him away from Klaus."

"Elena.." Bonnie whispers. My eyes fall onto her face. It's pained with an expression I can't put my finger on. Disgust?

"Bonnie? What?"

"It's horrible, Elena."

Then suddenly I was screaming and crying and Damon's arms were around me. I was demanding to see Stefan. I was in denial. He couldn't be like this. No, that was not the man I loved. My Stefan was sweet, caring, and had respect for human life. He wasn't this monster. Next thing I knew I was being thrown into the basement cell of the Salvatore mansion. I screamed and cried until I didn't have anything left of me. How dare he. How dare Damon lock me up and seal me away from Stefan.

Who does he think he is?

...and then, there it is. That tiny flutter, like a hummingbird's wings, that makes me blush at the way Damon is so protective. It makes me grateful. I see through him, through his dick exterior, and into his soul. The caring, kind soul that he has. Tears fall down my face. Why am I so confused? Why do I think hatred of Stefan? Why do I think kindness of his brother?

Because I love Stefan. Because I don't like Damon.

Because I used to love Stefan. Because I'm in love with Damon.

I cry some more, not caring that the man I love is in the other room listening to me. Maybe I'm hoping he'll stride in with his eyes looking over my naked body.

NO, Elena. It's not like that. No. Gah! Why are you so difficult? You make everything so much more harder on yourself.

Once my tears dry, I decide it's enough of bath time. The bathroom is fogged and damp and I eagerly change into the soft, silky bedtime shorts and T-shirt that was packed for me. I think about putting on a bra but in the end I just give up and step out into the bedroom. The room is dark. Damon's already in bed.

You honestly don't know how thankful I am that there are two seperate beds for us to sleep in. I can't crawl into bed with him. Not tonight.

Not after all of this.

I'm quiet as can be, slipping under the gold covers and letting the bed fold to my curves. My brown orbs close, my mind shutting down and letting itself gain it's energy back. The energy I used up crying, that is. I'm almost half-asleep when his voice breaks the darkness.

"I was going to bring you along because I didn't think we'd find Stefan." The words sink into my soul. He had no hope? After all we've been through he never, not once, had hope from the beginning? I'm angry. He was just humoring me? It was all for my benefit. Maybe he'd finish up the trip we never took with a "We can't find him, Elena. Let's go home." and then I would reconsider falling in love with him?

There's two problems. One, Stefan needed him. Two, I was already in love with him. He didn't need to stage everything. Or, stupid me, what if he really wasn't staging anything at all? What if..in some sick, twisted, Damon way..he absolutely wanted the best for me? The ache is back. Only this time it's a wound and it hurts to even breathe. My lungs struggle for air; I'm sobbing.

I climb out of bed and into his, snuggling against him. He turns over, allowing me to rest my head on his chest. "Damon..I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I don't mean to hurt you. I don't mean to..be so confused. Or angry. Please forgive me."

It's times like these when I wonder why I'm the one always apologizing to Damon when just a year ago the situation was reversed. Strange things happen, don't they?
He doesn't say anything and I don't take his silence as an acceptance. He wraps his arms around me and I feel like flying.

"I know you don't ever try and force me to fall in love with you. I'm sorry I ever said that. It was stupid. I was mad." The words come out of my mouth in a blur.

"I know." he breathes and his breath is cool and minty. I almost faint. "It's OK, Elena. I don't need another 'I love you, but I'm not in love with you.' speech. You nailed the last one."

"No," I say quickly. "No, Damon. I'm in love with you. I know I am. I just don't know what to do about it." The tears pour down my face. "I'm so confused. Why do I love you, Damon? Why has this changed? You piss me off, betray me, lock me up and I still need you."

He cups a hand to my cheek and wipes away the tears with his thumb.

"Don't be confused." He suggests.

"Easy for you to say."

"Elena?"

"Hm?"

"I love you."

"I love you.." I whisper the words back, feeling confident in their meaning.

And with a slow, tiny movement my lips find his in the darkness.