AN: I have to say, reviews are real happiness inducers thank you all! So I think I maybe have another 2 more chapters before wrapping this up an i will try to complete before going away at the end of the month if I can ok? xoxo

Elena tucked a showered and bathed sleepy Damon into bed. She brushed his raven wet hair from his face as she watched him sink his head into the pillow and fall into a deep slumber. Elena was convinced at that moment that there was nothing more beautiful than Damon asleep. All sarcasm, bitterness and other protection masks fell away and in its place all that was left was an angel of pure beauty that she adored. Elena had to fight the temptation to wake him up and kiss him until the need between her legs went away. She still felt turned on by the little ménage à trois between her lover, Ric and Stefan. Elena opted for letting Damon sleep. He had had a physical and emotional marathon in the hours beforehand that not even his legendary stamina could withstand. Elena chuckled softly… the thought that Damon Salvatore belonged to her still made her giddy. She got under the covers and curled against him, drawing patterns on his chest absentmindedly, waiting for sleep to claim her.

Elena had no idea how long she had been laying in bed caressing Damon's soft skin, oblivious to the universe outside the bed. From the corner of her eye she caught a silhouette against the frame of the backlit door. Elena lifted her head to see Stefan bare-chested, clad in boxers, hair wet and messy and arms crossed.

"Stefan?"- Elena asked in a quiet voice.

"Hi…" – he replied shyly.

"Is everything ok?"- she asked sleepily

"Yeah…" – Stefan shrugged.

"Where's Caroline?" – Elena asked looking around him for the blonde.

"She left..." - Stefan scratched his head -"with Ric." – he gave her a sheepish smile.

"What?" – Elena's jaw unhinged.

"No, not like that!" – he rolled his eyes but smiled – "He offered to escort her to her room that's all."

"Oh" – Elena blushed a little at her wayward thoughts..

"Yeah… I decided to stay over" - Stefan took a deep breath and slowly walked to the bed, sitting on the empty side facing her.

"Ok...Do you need something?" – Elena asked, adjusting the covers to hide her and Damon's nakedness, inwardly cursing that she hadn't thought of putting something on.

"Did he…Is he…" – he mumbled –"I'm sorry…" – he hung his head low and placed it between his hands.

Elena couldn't help it. She had always been the one to run to people's aid, but with Stefan it was even worse, she could never stop herself from taking care of him. With an internal eye roll she reached for her former boyfriend. Elena placed a hand on his shoulders and the other under his chin.

"Stefan…What's the matter?"

He looked at her with teary eyes and a hollow expression.

"When he wakes up…" – Stefan sobbed –"He is going to hate me right?"

"No!" – she replied automatically, but then thinking better –"He might be angry, but he could never hate you Stefan…"

Stefan gave her a thankful look before letting out another deep sigh.

"I wish I could understand why I feel this way…" – he looked at her pleadingly – "I don't understand why I want him… I know is wrong Elena… and yet…" - he shook his head defeated -"I really wish I felt differently Elena… but it felt so right when I was pleasing him…" – Stefan blushed and Elena matched him –"And when Caroline came over…"- Stefan lowered his gaze –"I was imagining Damon, not her, in my arms… How can I live with that?"

"I don't know Stefan." - Elena watched concerned as the emotions played on Stefan's face -"But we will figure it out together ok?"

Elena couldn't begin to understand what Stefan was going through... being attracted to your sibling, especially a same sex sibling… But what she understood was the pull that Damon had. A lot of that pull was of a sexual nature….so she didn't feel like she could judge Stefan for falling under the same spell that she had. Maybe, she concluded, this sexual desire came from a need to fix their emotionally damaged brotherhood...

"It's going to be ok Stefan." – Elena gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze and Stefan nodded brokenly…

"Lena…can I sleep here with you two?"

Elena knew it wasn't the best idea, her mind might as well have screamed it at her, but Stefan's voice was so full of despair that she caved in anyway.

"You will have to sleep above the covers because we are naked under here." – she said nervously trying to have some control over the situation.

Stefan chuckled softly, wiping the tears from his cheeks.

"I think we are way past modesty issues Elena."- when Elena gave him a warning look he raised his hands in defense –"Hey, I'll keep my boxers on okay?"

Elena sighed heavily.

"I'm sorry, it really doesn't matter. I am being hypocritical after all that went down..., you seeing me naked, one more time is not exactly cause for concern."

"If you say so." - Stefan smirked at her looking very much like his brother and making a shiver go down Elena's spine. The feeling was not helped when she saw his boxers fly to the floor.

"Stefan!" - Elena breathed angrily.

"You said it didn't matter!" - now he was doing the eye brow wriggling thing and Elena huffed frustrated - "I can always get up to get it." - he suggested.

"Nicely played." - she seethed -" Whatever Stefan! Goodnight!" - she grumbled and curled around Damon's body trying to forget that her ex-boyfriend was now in bed with them, naked.

The fact that said ex-boyfriend was current boyfriend's brother was the cream on top. The cherry was compliment of the fact that this ex-boyfriend not only had confessed having the hots for current boyfriend but had also just given him the blowjob of the century. Elena could practically see in her head a choreography where the cheerleaders spelled out "Here there be dragons (and incest)." Elena tucked her face into Damon's chest trying to get her mind to go blank so she could sleep. She [practically jumped out of her skin when she felt Stefan spooning her. Her body tensed like if it had been electrocuted and she glared at Stefan over her shoulder.

"Seriously?" - his answering smile was infuriating -"I'm starting to think that i Fell for the oldest trick in the book Mr. Puppy eyes."

"I didn't trick you...I am upset..." - he answered, all bravado gone -"I needed to hug you...I feel like I am unraveling Elena." - Stefan buried his head on her shoulder before continuing - "You and Damon are the only things making sense at the moment."

Elena softened a little but was unwilling to excuse his misbehavior completely.

"Fine Stefan... Just sleep ok?"

"Ok"

"Stefan!" - Elena cried indignant.

"I can't help it." - he said blushing -"Just ignore it and it will eventually go down ok?"

"Un-fricking-believable" - Elena muttered, firmly burying herself against Damon and ignoring his brother's hard on pressing against her back. She could swear they were tiptoeing on a very fine line. All she could hope for was that Damon would not be mad at her and that she wouldn't end up skewered in her sleep. "Now you done it Elena" a voice sounded in her head as she felt desire pool between her tights. Elena firmly turned her thoughts to multiplication tables, hoping to bore herself to sleep.

This chapter was little more complicated to write because I wanted it to feel natural and not contrived. Then again there are so many things at play here that it is hard keeping the balance. Hopefully I wrote something you guys like. Now I have to write what happens next right? LOL R&R and make me happy pleaseeeee!