A/N: I know it's been awhile. I started Student Teaching and now I'm so tired, I can barely squeeze in time to eat. So this chapter is somewhat filler but it does set up very important storylines later on. For the timeline, this chapter takes place the last week of January and the first two weeks of February. Smut, drama, and role-playing ahead!

Disclaimer: I own Nothing!

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The Christmas vacation passed quickly and soon the two lovers were anticipating their January vacation. Both had gone shopping to outfit their wardrobes for the week vacation that they hoped would occur with little interruption. Neither had heard from Isobel during those few weeks but Pearl had begun to come by to seek Damon's advice. The tomb vampires were becoming restless while cooped-up in the cabin. They were not allowed out but a few had snuck out and the rumors of animal attacks had resumed.

Pearl had no one to turn to for support so she turned to Damon. Damon agreed to help her out as best he could when Elena told him that it was their fault the tomb vampires were out at all. Damon agreed with Elena but she often found him grumbling about it being the biggest mistake of his life and the bitch wasn't even in there. Elena let him vent his frustrations but sent him off every day in order to aid Pearl and Anna.

Damon was frequenting Elena's house more often than she was at the Boarding House. He was afraid the tomb vampires might target her in anger and she was much safer at her home than his. He was spending a lot of time at Pearl's but Elena always tried to wait up for him. He would climb in her window and crawl into bed, kissing her softly before falling into a deep sleep. Sometimes his head would fall to the pillow while she was staring down at him, hoping for more kisses.

The day before they were to leave for their vacation, Damon came to Elena's bedroom to tell her he could not go. The tomb vampires were threatening to rise up against Pearl and she needed his support. He could see that Elena was upset but she covered it well, understanding his involvement with the tomb vampires was much more important than a vacation. She told him to come to bed when he was done and maybe they could take a vacation during her spring break.

His hours were long during that week. He only slept for a few hours but even those few hours were spent with Elena. He sought her out during the night while she slept or he would nap nearby during the day. Either way he was determined to spend his limited free time with her. She said little about it but he would often awake from his short naps with her running her fingers through his hair in a soothing motion.

Tonight was no different from the previous few weeks. Damon had missed another date night and Elena had told him everything was fine. She wanted him to come to bed when he finally got done at Pearl's. He moved slowly down the street as he walked towards her house. His clothes were ripped slightly and his white shirt was coated in blood. He hoped she was asleep so he could climb into bed before she noticed his current state. He didn't want her to worry.

He swung up to her window and was surprised to see the light still on. It was nearly four in the morning and he was concerned. The latest he had ever been when she was expecting him was 2am so he hoped she wasn't sick. He climbed over the window sill quickly and saw her lying on her bed with a book in her lap. She was sleeping but she had obviously been waiting for him. He sighed quietly and realized how much he was taking advantage of her kindness. She hadn't complained when he missed three dates or their vacation. She let him curl into bed with her even when she had to get up in a few hours and he woke her up from his movements. She would wait up for hours for him and refuse to go out with friends until he came to her. He knew she was worried the tomb vampires might hurt him. She had to know he was safe.

He sat down on the bed and brushed her hair off of her sleeping face and he watched as her eyes opened slightly.

"You're here." She reached up to pull him down to her for a kiss.

"Believe me I wanted to be here sooner."

"What happened?"

"Frederick and a few of the others staged a small coup. They had Harper tied up and Pearl was out running errands. It took us a few hours to subdue him and then we had to wait for Pearl."

"Oh God you are covered in blood!" He quieted her quickly by kissing her, his tongue darting into her mouth to soothe her.

"I'm perfectly fine. Most of it is their blood." She reached out and touched his blood-splattered shirt before shaking her head.

"Go take a shower and I'll get you some clothes." She shooed him towards the door to the bathroom while she turned to find some of his clothes in one of her drawers. "I'll leave them out for morning. How long will you have to sleep?"

"As long as I want. I have the day off." She smiled brilliantly at him and he was thrilled to be able to share this news with her. She pushed him towards the shower and watched him until he finally stepped under the water. He allowed the warm water to soothe his tired muscles while the dried blood was washed away. He reached for the shampoo and noticed a bottle of his usual shampoo on the ledge. He smiled when he realized she had bought for him since she preferred her fruity ones.

He took his time before wrapping a towel around his wet body, his hair slick against his forehead. He figured he would just crawl into bed since he heard her turn the lights off right before he got in the shower. He wasn't surprised because she had to be tired from sitting up half the night waiting for him. He had already promised himself that he would take her away for Valentine's Day to make up for all the crap he had put her through.

He opened the door to let the steam out and was greeted with a few candles being lit around the room, the scent of jasmine and honeysuckle swirling around him in a haze. He saw her then, reclined on the pillows. He froze at the sight of her. She was wearing new lingerie, a sheer pink babydoll number that made him painfully aroused in seconds. Her skin was a lovely honey tone due to the candles while her legs seemed to go on for miles. She watched him as his blue eyes darkened while they raked over her form.

"I know you must be tired but I thought that..." She moved until she was kneeling on the bed in one of his favorite poses, "maybe I could persuade you to get yourself really good and tired." His eyes dropped to the sheer panties hidden slightly by the baby-doll and he moved forward to touch her skin.

"You feel divine Sweetheart. I've missed you so much!" His fingers trailed up her knees, teasing the sides of her body until they reached her soft neck. He leaned down to kiss the fragrant skin and moaned when her sweet perfume reached his nose. The perfume drove him wild and he knew she was pulling out all the stops tonight.

"Go ahead. You can feed if you want." He moaned at her words while his fangs surged to tease her. She reacted immediately as her arousal perfumed the air. A few weeks before he had tried teasing her with his fangs and he had found that even his blunt teeth caused a sexual reaction from her. She was craving his bite and he loved her for it. He liked the power he had over her especially since she seemed so unaware of her power over him.

His fangs sliced into her skin quickly while her soft sigh echoed in his ear as he greedily gulped down her blood. There was no comparison between hers and others. Her blood was everything he could ever want and he prayed that when he turned her, she would keep her unique taste. Even though her blood would no longer sustain him, he could enjoy the flavor of her for an eternity.

Her fingers tunneled into his hair while her lithe form pressed itself intimately to his. Her voice was a litany of soft sighs and moans as he fed from her. His hands which usually held his victim to him, trailed down her back to play on her panties, pressing her sex in time with his gulps. He pulled back before he took too much and leaned back to see her closed eyes, her hands resting on his shoulders. He repositioned her and lowered her to the soft pillows, his eyes never leaving her face.

Once settled he lay next to her and began caressing her body lightly through the material of her lingerie. He was slow and patient while driving her arousal up. He wanted her trembling tonight, wanted her to be desperate for him as he was for her. It had been a few weeks since they were intimate and he knew tonight would make it worth the wait. His fingers trailed down her stomach before sliding under the sheer material. They trailed up to pluck at a nipple and then swiftly moved to tease her bundle of nerves.

She arched up nearly crying out from the contact. She was sensitive tonight, crying out in pleasure as he teased her slowly. She would not orgasm so easily. He was determined to draw out their lovemaking for a little while, savoring her. He played her until he felt her building up to her moment of release before pulling his hand from her, leaving her whimpering at the lost.

"Please Damon. I'm so needy. I haven't...not since." He understood what she meant. They had been waiting for each other since then. She reached down to grip his penis in her hot, little hands and he bucked against her. She pumped him for a few moments slowly, always slowly until he was nearly crying out in need.

He moved over her, pulling the soft material off her body until she was only clothed in the barely there panties. His lips ghosted over hers, tasting her sweetness. She pulled him down to her, lips pressing tightly against his. Their skin moved over each other's with purpose, slick skin over honeyed. His body settled between her thighs, while they kissed each other for long moments, their tongues teasing and dipping with meaning.

After a long bout of kissing and teasing, his hands dropped to her panties and swiftly pulled them off her legs. He settled himself between her thighs once more and they slid against each other, moaning.

"I've missed you Baby. I want things to be normal again."

"Me too. You are so delectable and to see you like this...well you'll need to wear that

again." He moved then, sheathing himself in her wetness as he pulled her tightly against him. He moved slowly, savoring every clench of her muscles as he kissed her senseless. Their love exploded between them driving up their need to an unbearable level.

His thrusts were slow as they seemed to roll around the bed. Her leg rubbed up his thigh until her heel was massaging his back. He groaned as he felt her warm thighs pressed to his hips. She moaned as his muscles rippled from his forceful thrusts. His powerful confidence ensnared her heart, passionately arousing her to nearly unbearable heights. Their lips fused as he pressed his chest against hers, her hardened nipples rubbing against him deliciously. They were savoring each other, determined to make up for lost time.

Her nails dug into his back, digging in so he was sure he would have little crescent imprints if he had been human. Her breath was like a symphony in his ear as little whimpers escaped. She was calling to him like any Homeric siren. Her hair was fanned out on the soft fabric of her pillow and he longed to bury his nose in it, to inhale her sweet fragrance. As he leaned in to nuzzle her soft hair, she whispered a breathy, "Mine."

He pulled back to stare down at her. His eyes ran past her sweaty brow, her chocolate eyes, and her kissable nose, to settle on her lips. His eyes flew back to her eyes and he was struck by the possessiveness held there. She was claiming him, making him hers in a more primal way that called to the demon in him. His vampire visage came to the forefront at her soft chant of, "Mine. Mine. Mine." He leaned down to tease her throat with his fangs, his words echoing near her ear "Yours, only yours."

He made no claim back to her. Tonight was about their love and he wanted her to know

how deep his commitment to her ran. Their pace picked up as he continued to whisper, "yours." Suddenly he moved closer to her ear and said in impassioned voice, "Bite me Elena."

"Wh...what?"

"Bite me!" His voice was urgent and she moved her lips to his neck. She kissed lightly before biting down on him, his blood flowing into her mouth. His head shot up as best it could as she clung to his neck. His eyes were wide and they were a piercing blue. His vampire visage had faded at the intense feelings her bite incited in him. When he was human and Katherine fed, he always felt strange. He never felt much of anything but dizziness and lust. This was magic. As simple as that sounded, he knew at that moment they were connected.

"Damon!" He felt her clench around him and he quickly followed her into oblivion, his head falling to her hair. Her hands clasped him to her as he stayed inside her. He knew his weight must be crushing her so he tried to move but she held her to him.

"Stay," She whispered to him as he dropped down to kiss her breasts softly.

"Always." He murmured against her skin. Finally he pulled himself from her body before lying down beside her. She moved until he was spooning her from behind, his arm falling around her while his hand cupped her breast. His lips fell to her shoulder as he basked in the afterglow of the bite.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, I'm just happy."

"Mm hmm." He laid there and listened to her even breathing for a moment before snuggling in closer and falling asleep. Somewhere in the deep recesses of his soul something changed, binding him to her in the ways of primal magic which he had scoffed at for 145 years.

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No one would say that something was wrong with Damon, but those close to him noticed the changes. He seemed more attuned to Elena than ever before. He would sit around and seem to instantly know when she needed something. She would be thinking about getting a drink and he would place one in front of her. She would barely start to shiver and he would be wrapping a blanket around her shoulders.

Damon was more attentive in bed. Elena couldn't complain about that aspect. Their lovemakings were longer, more passionate than ever. He seemed to know exactly what she needed for a mind-blowing climax and he constantly seemed to be driving her higher and higher. He was more amorous as well, always trying to drag her off into a closet or behind trees. He seemed to crave her all the time. She would often wake up to him pleasuring her until she was begging for him.

So to say Elena was confused would be an understatement. Elena could not figure out what had happened to make him act this way. His kisses were deeper, his looks longer. Caroline had called him whipped one day and he seemed to grow confused. Elena watched closely as he tried to understand his actions. He honestly didn't seem aware of the changes and when they were brought to his attention, he seemed unsure.

One night opened on Stefan reading a book in the parlor while Damon paced. It had been going on for three hours and Stefan was getting irritated.

"What is the matter with you?" Damon stopped and whirled to look at his brother before resuming his pacing.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"No. I just...I feel...strange. Something is wrong but I don't know what it is." Stefan grew interested at Damon's words. Damon kept rubbing his chest as he paced. "I think...hmm..."

"What?"

"Elena."

"What about her?"

"She's upset." Damon grabbed a glass of whiskey and just sunk into the arm chair. Stefan watched him close his eyes and grimace.

"Did you two have a fight?"

"No. We're fine but she's upset."

"And how do you know this?"

"I don't know. I just do." Stefan sat back, watching his brother until he heard a car in the driveway. He leaned back as he heard Elena slam her car door and march up the steps. She opened the front door and came in, dropping her bag inside the door. Damon was beside her in a heartbeat, wiping tears off her face. He held her to him and Stefan frowned at the scene.

"What happened?"

"Some...someone...van...vandalized...my parents...grave..." She sobbed out against him. Damon rubbed her back soothingly until she calmed down. "Who would do something like that?" He led her to the arm chair and sat her down before going and getting her a glass of water.

"Don't worry Sweetheart. We'll go down in the morning and fix it." Damon sat on the arm of the chair as he brushed his lips to her hairline.

"How did you know Damon?" Elena looked over at Stefan.

"How did he know what?"

"How did you know Elena was upset?" Elena looked up at Damon and once again saw

that little flicker of confusion register in his eyes. He didn't understand any more than they did.

"I don't know. I just knew. I knew she was upset and that she needed me." He spoke slowly, trying to understand it himself. Elena watched him closely as he tried to explain it to Stefan and realized he needed something now too.

"Let's go to bed Damon." Damon turned to her and Stefan seemed genuinely perplexed by her statement. Elena moved to stand by Damon and tugged lightly on his hand. "Come on Damon. Take me to bed."

He seemed to consider her for a moment before, "Okay. We'll see you tomorrow Stefan." Stefan watched as Elena led him up the stairs towards their room. At that moment he realized his brother and Elena were more connected than he had previously believed. Damon simply needed to go to bed and not dwell on the issue and Elena had recognized it. Damon was acting strange and Stefan could not understand why. For the first time since they were children, Stefan was genuinely worried about his brother.

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The morning dawned early for Stefan. After the confusing incident of the previous night, Stefan had devoted a long period of time to research in his library. He was beginning to think Damon's behavior was linked to a witch's spell. His thoughts drifted to Isobel and he wondered if perhaps she had done something. His thoughts also flickered to Bonnie but he would have expected pain, not devotion in her spell.

He carried a few spellbooks up towards Damon's room knowing Damon rarely slept long. He hoped to catch him before Elena woke up. He noticed the door to Damon's suite was open so he let himself in, surprised to not see Damon on the couch. Damon typically would watch TV in there when he woke up before Elena and today he was nowhere to be found.

Stefan moved towards the open bedroom door and heard light groaning. He listened for a moment and determined the groaning was not really sexual in nature so he moved closer. He pushed the door open and was greeted with the sight of Elena sitting on Damon's lower back while she massaged him. Elena was wearing Damon's shirt while she pressed down on him. His head was near the foot of the bed and glanced over to Stefan for a moment.

"Can we help you?" Elena looked up but continued her ministrations.

"I was looking through some spellbooks and uh...we can rule out witch's magic as the cause of your behavior changes."

"Well that's helpful. Sweetness could you go a little lower?"

"Here?" Her fingers ghosted towards the middle of his back and he nearly moaned in response.

"She gives the best damn massages I've ever had. I can just feel the crappiness float away." Damon closed his eyes and Stefan watched Elena smile brightly. He was captivated by them; they almost seemed to fit each other. Elena grounded Damon while Damon could offer her a much more mature relationship. Stefan once again cursed his 17 year-old body. If only he had grown up a little more...

"Mmmm...thank you." Damon began to push himself up as Elena moved to sit on the bed beside him. Elena whispered a soft, "Anything." Damon stood up and reached for a new shirt while Stefan stood there in silence. "Anything else, Stefan or are you going to keep ogling my girl?"

Stefan snapped out of it then. He had been looking at Elena on the bed, the way her soft breasts pushed against the shirt and the way her womanly parts were hidden by the material. Her hair was swirled around her in a passionate disarray that showed how thoroughly loved she had been in the morning hours. His eyes froze on the ring on her finger and turned to stare at Damon.

"It's not an engagement ring, Stefan." Elena spoke quietly from the bed while Damon whispered under his breath, "Idiot."

"I didn't think it was."

"Yes you did Brother. You thought I had proposed and there is no reason to pretend otherwise. It's merely a promise ring." Damon leaned down and kissed the ring on her finger softly.

"It's merely a few thousand dollars ring." Elena gasped at the price and her eyes dropped down to the silver band.

"Don't think of the price Sweetheart. You are worth much more than that but I did want to give you something worthy. If you'd like we can have a fake made and you can wear that one."

"I can't accept this Damon. It's too much!" Damon sat down beside her and lifted her chin.

"You already did accept it. Now Stefan, if you'd be so kind as to leave so I can prove to her how much I want her? We still need to go to the Cemetery but I think we're going to spend some time here first." Stefan took the hint and moved to leave but turned back to see Damon already on his knees as he hoisted her body towards him. Stefan was barely out the front door when he heard Elena's cry of pleasure.

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Soon Valentine's Day was upon them while a dark, moodiness descended on the Boarding House. Stefan's dark mood threatened the small bubble of happiness Elena and Damon had created. He had grown progressively moodier and often snapped at Damon over nothing. Elena had stayed out of many of the disputes except one.

Stefan had been screaming at Damon for nearly an hour and he had sent her to seek refuge in his rooms. She had finally edged onto the stairs when Stefan began speaking of their parents. Stefan had yelled about their father being ashamed of Damon and how he knew Damon would never amount to anything. Damon stood stoically in the doorway to the parlor, simply listening.

The last straw for Elena had been Stefan bringing their mother into the argument. He immediately launched into how disappointed she would have been, how she would have disowned him. He also mentioned that Damon had been a nuisance to their mother and she had grown to hate him towards the end of her life for his clinginess. At those words Elena saw Damon react as if he had been punched in the stomach. She raced down those stairs and slapped Stefan.

"How dare you!" Elena slapped him again before yelling at him, calling him ungrateful, malicious, and a horrible person. "How dare you say those things to your brother! How dare you say those things about your mother!" Damon watched in awe as Elena backed Stefan towards a wall while she yelled at him. Stefan seemed to shrink back from her, clearly upset over her reaction.

"I can't even look at you." Elena turned towards Damon and walked towards him. "Come on Baby, let's go to my house." He followed her out of the house and escorted her to the passenger side door. He safely tucked her into the car and raced to the driver's side.

"As much as I would love to sneak in your window tonight, do you think we could just go to the Inn and spend the night?"

"I suppose so. Jenna told me as long as I don't come home pregnant that she's giving me freedom. I'll be eighteen in a few weeks so she's letting me live my life...with you." Damon smiled and reached over to hold her hand. She smiled shyly at him as he parked the car behind the inn.

"You're still wearing your ring?" He fingered the ring lightly before kissing the aquamarine stone.

"Yes, I really do love it."

"I never thought I could be like this."

"Like what?"

The romantic type. I never thought that I could love like this. With...her it was always obsession. I never imagined I could be like this, that I could be so in love with someone. I want you with me always. I want to give you everything. I want you to want me like I want you." She watched him lower his eyes.

"I do. I do want you like that. I always want you and I want to give you everything. You've been alone for so long and I never want that for you again. You are such a good man when you have someone in your life. Don't listen to Stefan about your mother. You've told me so much and I know she loved you." He smiled at her before leaning over to brush the back of her hand with his lips.

"Thank you Sweetheart."

"You are becoming the man she wanted you to be, the man she saw in you." She leaned over to kiss him softly and then they moved towards the inn. They checked in quickly and he ushered her up the stairs. She made noises about showering and then going to bed. He lay down on the bed and told her he'd wait for her.

Elena spent a little time in the bathroom, showering and making herself beautiful for her night with her man. They had relaxed their primping over the past month or so since they no longer had to try quite so hard. They had settled into their relationship and she finally felt comfortable without makeup and perfect hair around him. She shaved quickly because he loved the smoothness as she finished her bathroom routine.

She opened the door and sauntered into the room in only the Inn robe and was greeted with a terrifying scene. The furniture was nearly decimated, the door hanging off the hinges and Damon's jacket lay on the floor near a splatter of some liquid. After closer inspection, she realized the liquid was vervain. She let out a soft sob before reaching for her phone.

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Elena sat on the couch in the Boarding House, surrounded by a warm blanket that Stefan had wrapped her in. In front of her Stefan, Anna, Isobel, Alaric, and Jeremy stood trying to think of a way to help Damon. Anna was sure that Frederick had him since some of the tomb vampires had escaped earlier in the day. They had ruled out the cabin since Pearl and Harper were still there with the others and everything was fine. Harper would be joining them as soon as he could. Elena was surprised to see Isobel at the Boarding House when she and Stefan arrived but Alaric explained her presence. They had been talking at the Grill when Elena had called him.

"Do we have any idea where he could be?" Jeremy had been avoiding Elena for weeks but the moment he saw her coming into the Boarding House, he put his personal feelings aside. His sister was devastated. Jeremy had never seen her like this. When their parents died she was hurt and depressed but she was more stoic about the whole thing. This Elena in front of him was not his sister. This was someone who was empty. He knew that she had always seen Damon as nearly invulnerable and never thought he could be taken from her.

"They would need somewhere where they couldn't be bothered. If they compel someone to let them in near lots of people, than the cops could be called. I think we need to look at a remote location." Anna vocalized what her and her mother had done after the tomb. She had spent the most time around Frederick so they hoped for her help.

"Do you have enough supplies for cleaning out a nest?" Stefan turned towards Alaric and Alaric pulled out a rather large bag. He laid out vervain darts, stakes and other such weaponry for the nest.

"You've been holding out on us Ric." Isobel lifted one of the stakes and then a few of the darts. "There is an old cabin out on the outskirts of town. I found it when I was setting up our rendezvous. Perhaps they could be there?"

"No, definitely not. Frederick will want to torture Damon for the tomb. He'll want somewhere almost poetic." Anna lifted a few of the weapons while Stefan grabbed a few darts. Jeremy lifted a stake and put it in his pocket.

"Jeremy, you aren't going." Alaric reached for the stake Jeremy had.

"Like hell I'm not. This isn't just about Damon who I'll admit has been really cool to me but this is about my sister. These bastards are hurting her and I'm going to help take them down!"

"Jer?" He turned to look at Elena who was staring at him in awe.

"Look Elena, I get that I'm human and that I'm not trained but neither are you and I know that you are going to be there. I've um...had Anna's blood so I'm covered in that respect." She nodded her head a little before picking up a few darts.

"Elena we don't know where he is being held." Stefan reached out to grab her hand. She shook him off and headed towards the door.

"They're at the tomb. The spell is off and the door can be opened with some force. What better place to torture him? Once he's weak they can seal the door and leave him in there to rot." They all nodded their heads before heading out the door, following Elena.

Stefan, Jeremy, and Anna climbed into his car while Alaric, Isobel, and Elena climbed into the teacher's car. Isobel chose to sit in back with Elena while Alaric drove.

"Why are you helping me?" Elena looked over at her mother while fingering her vervain bracelet.

"I don't like your involvement with the Salvatores but you are my daughter and I do care about you. I just...I just don't want this life for you. I will still try to put a stop to this but this is not the way to do it. His death will just tie you to him more deeply."

"You should know that I love him and you can't change that."

"Yes well, we Pierce women always seem to love the wrong things."

"Maybe we're just fighting something that is really right. Maybe we just have trouble admitting it."

"Maybe..." Isobel leaned back against the seat and grew quiet.

"Um we're almost there. Stefan is stopping up ahead." The car came to a stop and they all hopped out.

"Where's Anna?" Elena looked around and Jeremy moved closer to her.

"She's scouting up ahead to see if they're here." He put his arm around his sister and pulled her close. "He's going to be fine Elena."

"I just...don't know what I'd do. I just found him you know?"

"I know. I just found Anna too." They stood there quietly while Stefan, Alaric, and Isobel tried to come up with a plan.

"They're in there. I could hear them from nearly a mile off. Elena...you need to prepare yourself for what he might look like. I could hear him...screaming." Elena shuddered at Anna's words but suddenly grew tall.

"He's counting on me and I'm not going to fall apart. Let's go." Their misfit gang took off for the tomb and a plan began to take form. Each human would be paired with a vampire. Elena was going with Isobel, Jeremy with Stefan, and Anna with Alaric. It seemed odd but Alaric explained that if Elena was with Stefan or Jeremy was with Anna then the mission could be compromised. Stefan and Anna would focus too heavily on the ones they cared for so it would be better to split up.

Jeremy, Stefan, Anna, and Alaric would venture into the tomb while Isobel and Elena would remain outside. Elena didn't like the idea of Jeremy being sent in but he assured her that he had Anna's blood in him where Elena was not protected. Once inside the four would separate into groups of two, each taking a different path. Isobel and Elena were to pick off any returning to the tomb or trying to flee. Isobel offered Elena some blood but Elena refused, stating that only her and Damon shared blood.

Time passed slowly for Elena while they hovered near the entrance. It had been 25 minutes and there had been no noise coming from the tomb. Isobel listened closely and had stated that no fighting had occurred yet. They were waiting for the call for help or for the group to emerge. The code had been a flair set off inside the tomb which Isobel would be able to see.

"Do you think they're okay?" Isobel turned to look at Elena and noticed her shiver. She pulled off her leather jacket and draped it over Elena's shoulders.

"I'm sure they're fine for the moment. The fighting began. I can hear some yelling. It sounds like maybe 8 people...probably 2 humans, 6 vampires. I'm watching for the signal." Elena moved closer to Isobel and watched the interior of the tomb. Isobel reached out and grabbed Elena's turquoise bracelet.

"HEY!"

"Now listen closely. You are going to go to the car, get in and drive home. You are going to go to bed and in the morning you will not remember Damon or Stefan or vampires. You will go through your normal days. Now repeat what I just told you." Isobel waited as Elena repeated the words and turned to leave. Isobel smiled lightly as she took off for the signal. Damon and Stefan would leave after this and leave Elena alone. She would make sure of it.

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Elena walked towards the car and turned on the ignition. She started to turn towards the highway but she felt a crunching sound under her feet. She lifted up the small flower and smelled the fragrance.

"What am I doing? I need to get home and go to bed...but this scent...I need...Damon?" She continued to hold the flower and felt some of the residue rub off on her skin. She caught a glimpse of herself in the rear-view mirror and her eyes fell on the sapphire pendant around her neck. "Damon gave this to me...he needs me." She turned the car around and sped along the path through the woods until she was near the tomb. She got out of the car and ran to the entrance. She picked up the bracelet laying near the opening and put it on, glaring at the space where her mother had been only a few minutes before.

"I'm going to stake her myself." She mumbled quietly as she stepped inside. She moved quickly, following the one path that seemed to draw her in. She tip-toed down the hall when a hand clamped down over her mouth, muffling her scream.

"Are you insane?" She heard Anna's voice near her ear. "Why aren't you with Isobel?"

"Isobel tried to compel me to leave and I came back. Where is she?"

"Isobel is in there fighting off one of the vampires. She said you hurt yourself and stayed out there. Stefan told me to go stay with you while he was yelling at her for leaving you alone." Elena grumbled something before they both moved towards the door.

"Did you see Damon?"

"Yeah he's in there and he's not looking too good. It's just Frederick who's left."

"Is everyone...?

"Alaric was knocked unconscious and Jeremy is with him. Stefan and Isobel are fighting Frederick." Anna held Elena back.

"They'll all be distracted if you are there. Let's wait until they've taken care of Frederick." They listened quietly as they heard Frederick get staked and quiet overtook the room. Anna still held her back and they waited.

"Come on Damon, let's get you outside." She heard Stefan say to him and she heard Isobel and Jeremy helping Alaric up. Suddenly Damon came into view and Elena knew what Anna had meant his condition. He was covered in blood, his eye swollen shut, and he had a large gash across his chest. His head lolled on his shoulder as he tried to carry his weight without Stefan's help. Elena could see that he was drugged. Damon's open eye was blurred and he was moving strangely. Isobel, Alaric, and Jeremy came around the corner. Isobel froze when she saw Elena.

Elena moved to Damon quickly and pulled his arm around her shoulders. "Come on Baby, let's get you home." He groaned before pressing his mouth to her face. He seemed to be aiming for her cheek but he caught the tip of her ear.

"Mmm...honeysuckle." He groaned against her. They moved up to the car and she helped Stefan get Damon into the backseat of his car. Elena climbed in the back and cradled him against her. She leaned out the window and told Alaric that she would see him later before telling Anna to take care of Jeremy. She gave Isobel a withering stare before turning her attention back to Damon.

"It's okay Baby, we're going to get you all patched up." She started to kiss his forehead and stroke his face as he fell unconscious.

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She leaned on her arm watching the dark-haired man sleeping in the bed beside her. He slept peacefully and her fingers trailed over the healing gash on his forehead before ghosting down to the pinkish gash on his chest. It had taken him days to heal but Stefan was convinced the drugs were out of his system.

She grew angry when she thought of the tomb vampires. Stefan thought they had mixed some heavy-duty drugs into a sort of cocktail and force-fed him. The reigning theory was a blood bag since evidence had been found in the tomb. He had been hallucinating for days and had staked Stefan three times with a spoon before falling unconscious. Only Elena's presence had seemed to calm him so she called in sick and stayed with him constantly. Stefan grew concerned over her lack of appetite but she barely ate while she was with Damon.

She smiled when she felt his hand on her hip. She had discovered him to be a sleeping sex fiend. On day two of four, she woke up to him taking her. She had been spread out on the bed as he thrust furiously into her, his warm mouth on her breast. He had climaxed quickly, fortunately bringing her off as well. He had fallen to the bed beside her and she had spent a long few hours mopping up the blood that had spilled from his re-torn chest wound.

His fingers teased at her again, moving to touch her sex gently as he coaxed her into arousal. She moaned low in her throat as he moved his fingers against her. Just as she was getting into his movements he pulled away and groaned. The sheets were tented over him and she took in the sight of his erection. She pulled the sheet off his healing body and moved down towards the center of the bed.

She leaned up and licked at him gently, her mouth sucking at him. His hips surged beneath her and suddenly she was very full of him. Her hands cupped him, squeezing gently as she showered him with affection. He was groaning as she went farther down on him before she pulled back to lick at him like a lollipop.

She felt him stirring beneath her and she redoubled her efforts until he released into her mouth. She swallowed him convulsively before sliding up to plant kisses on his chest.

"Now that's a way to be woken up." Her eyes flew up to meet his cheerful eyes. "I may just have to demand that kind of wake-up call more often." He seemed surprised when she moved up to kiss his neck, pressing her body to his so completely. He rubbed her back lightly until he felt wetness against his neck. He realized she was crying quietly as she clung to him, her hands shaking against his skin.

He petted her awkwardly as she pressed her face against his neck. He grew confused at her reaction. He had just left her in the bathroom and here she was crying against him? He looked around for a moment, expecting to see the Inn suite he had rented but instead he saw his usual armchair near his bed. He looked around his room and was amazed to see the unkempt state of his room. There were clothes everywhere, dirty dishes on the dresser, and her overnight bag was tossed haphazardly on the floor. He had never seen his room look so lived-in.

"What happened?" She sat up and looked down at him surprised.

"What do you mean?" She glanced around at the room quickly. "Oh I'm sorry for not cleaning up."

"What happened Elena? Last thing I remember was waiting for you to come out of the bathroom."

"You really don't remember? Well I came out of the bathroom and you were gone. The tomb vampires at-" He cut her off with a furious, "Bastards!" She giggled lightly at him for a moment before continuing. "They attacked and we came to get you. Stefan, Alaric, Jeremy, Anna, and Isobel helped out. Everyone else is fine."

"How long have I been out?"

"Four days. Stefan was pretty sure that you were heavily drugged and your blood was laced with vervain. I've been nursing you back to health. By the way Mister, you are a sex fiend!"

"Well I always thought so but what did I do?"

"Sex with me while I was sleeping, groping me while I was sleeping or awake, waking up with your lips on my breasts, do I need to go on?"

"Well I do love your breasts." He sat up and kissed on nipple before moving to suck at the other one. "And this...I love this!" His hand parted her thighs and dipped to play with her gently. "So what happened with the vampires?"

"Well...ah! They were staked and...oh god! Isobel tried to compel me to forget you." He stopped his motions to stare at her.

"She did what?" She thrust against his hand for a moment before he resumed his gentle motions.

"She tried to make me forget but I found some vervain in the car and it snapped me out of it. I haven't seen her since then." He growled loudly before his thumb began to move vigorously against her, causing her to cry out in completion. She fell forward until she was cradled against his chest.

"Well everything is fine now and we can finally start planning a vacation where I can sex you up all day."

"Yeah well something else happened while you were out..." He looked at her questioningly as he sat up. "Uncle John got into town and he's meeting with the Council tomorrow night." Damon had heard stories about Uncle John from the Council and understood the trouble he could cause. He had to be at that meeting.

Damon moved until he was reclining against the pillows, and she watched fascinated as he seemed to grow ill in front of her. "What's wrong Baby?"

"I want to play a game. I want you to be my nurse and I'll be the patient."

"You want to role-play right now?" She watched as he nodded.

"You get the stuff from when you were sick and we can play. I want my sexy nurse to take care of me and then I'll take care of her." He watched as Elena huffed to the bathroom and slammed the door. He groaned at the angry sound. He had really been hoping for some fun. He knew she had been through a lot but he didn't know how to comfort her in this. He would have been a homicidal mess if she had been lying in the bed, injured and unconscious. He sat up and started to move to get up to follow her to the bathroom. He sighed quietly as he looked at the floor.

"I suggest you get back into bed Mister Salvatore. We wouldn't want to have to give you a sedative now would we?" His eyes shot up to find her wearing a short white dress she had worn over a bikini once and her hair in a bun. Good God! Where had she found those little glasses? She sauntered towards him with a thermometer in her hand and he watched her in awe. "Let's take your temperature Mister Salvatore. We need to see how much medicine you'll need."

"Medicine?" Before he could continue his question, the thermometer was shoved in his mouth and she waited until it beeped.

"Just as I thought. You are entirely too cold Mr. Salvatore. We need to warm you up a little. Get you all hot and bothered." She punctuated her statement by leaning down and licking his neck. He shivered lightly at her movements. She pushed against him until he was in bed before pulling the sheets up to rest around him.

"What are you...?"

"You are way too cold for me to touch. I'll have to get you slightly warmer first." He watched as she turned to the stereo on his dresser and she turned it on to a pumping, sexual song. He watched fascinated as she began to dance, touching herself lightly in time to the music. He leaned back fully and relaxed into watching the show. If she wanted to play then he was going to be her willing little plaything.

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A/N: So I hope you enjoyed the ride. I'm super busy but most of my writing gets done on the weekend so I have high hopes. A couple of things:

Elena will have a birthday in March

John will cause trouble while Isobel takes a slight backseat

There is some magic at work surrounding Damon's behavior

Stefan is still upset about the whole thing

I needed to rid the world of the tomb so that's why this happened.

Miss Mystic Falls is in April and Katherine arrives in May

Feel free to message me about any debateable topics, any questions, or any requests. Remember reviews are like candy!

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Follow me at /tsukikomew

See you all next time!