When There's A Spark

by Darkdiva14

"Damon, I can't just drop everything and move to Mystic Falls with you. Senior year's about to start," Brooke said and Damon shrugged. "You can start it there. Nobody'll even notice you're new...except for the Psycho Hybrid and Barbie Bitch." Brooke shook her head with a small smile, "Damon..." He added, "Aren't you tired of being the footnote to somebody else's love story?"

10. Give Me Love

One Tree Hill. The Vampire Diaries. I don't own either of them.

Pre-Summary: "Damon, I can't just drop everything and move to Mystic Falls with you. Senior year's about to start," Brooke said and Damon shrugged. "You can start it there. Nobody'll even notice you're new...except for the psycho Hybrid and Barbie Bitch." Brooke shook her head with a small smile, "Damon…" He added, "Aren't you tired of being the footnote to somebody else's love story? Cuz I know I am."

Summary: All it took was one visit from Damon Salvatore and Brooke Davis was packing her life away in Tree Hill and moving into the Salvatore mansion with Mystic Falls' resident bad boy. Brooke only knows a small amount of the bullshit going on, but once she's there, she's stuck there. And aside from the jealous Elena, imposing Klaus and the ever-brooding Ripper Stefan, Brooke's gotta deal with feelings she'd rather not have for her best friend. And are those feelings really as one-sided as she thinks…or has Damon really let go of Elena for good? Set in season.

I changed the rating for a reason.

OOOOOOOOO

Give a little time to me or burn this out,
We'll play hide and seek to turn this around,
All I want is the taste that your lips allow,
My, my, my, my, oh give me love,
My, my, my, my, oh give me love,
My, my, my, my, oh give me love,
My, my, my, my, oh give me love,
My, my, my, my, oh give me love.

Give me love like never before,
'cause lately I've been craving more,
And it's been a while but I still feel the same,
Maybe I should let you go,
You know I'll fight my corner,
And that tonight I'll call ya,
After my blood is drowning in alcohol,
No I just wanna hold ya.

Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran

"I cannot believe that this is your room," Caroline exclaimed as she walked into Brooke's bedroom, the brunette laying on the bed with a magazine. "Best room in the whole house." Brooke grinned as she put the book down.

"I'm the most special person in the house, duh," she mused and Caroline smirked, hopping onto the comfy queen-sized bed before laying out on it.

"OH MY GAWD!" Caroline yelled as she sunk into the mattress and Brooke laughed, throwing a pillow at the blonde. "Sleepovers are definitely over here now!" They chuckled as Brooke flipped to another page.

"Where's Bonnie?" She asked and Caroline sighed.

"Abby's trying to win the mother-of-the-year award," she replied and glanced at Brooke after a beat. "Tyler called. He apologized…about Dad and is still trying to break his sire bond." Brooke frowned slightly.

"Sorry." Caroline shrugged.

"It's nothing…what is something is this invitation," Caroline said and handed Brooke the white envelope. Curiously, Brooke opened it and read the invitation. It was for a ball with the Original family. Great. More of them.

"You going?"

"Are you?" Brooke shrugged.

"No invite," she said and Caroline scoffed.

"It's Klaus we're talking about. You're invited without an invitation, sweetie." Brooke chuckled and Caroline situated herself so that they both were laying the same way, propped up on their elbows. "Have you talked to Rebekah since she's been un-staked?" Brooke winced. Rebekah was not the topic that was up for discussion. Brooke was actually terrified of what would happen when they met up again.

"Not sure I'm ready to face her yet," Brooke admitted.

"But Elena was the one that staked her." For a moment, Caroline just stared at Brooke. She heard about Elena and Brooke's last conversation from Bonnie and from what she was told, the two were on stable grounds at the moment. Hopefully. "How are things with you and Elena?"

"Good." Caroline smirked.

"And Damon?" Caroline watched the heat gather in Brooke's cheeks immediately and Caroline grinned deviously. "Oh no, spill. What happened this time?" Brooke bit her lower lip.

"God, nothing," Brooke exclaimed and Caroline gave her an incredulous look. "Okay, fine. I needed to talk to him…and that wasn't what I ended up doing."

"Damon," Brooke called as she walked into his bedroom. She'd been looking for him all day and was about to be seriously pissed with him. He'd left her so freaking frustrated the other day and all she wanted was to curse him out for doing what he did. Although, she knew that that wasn't the only thing she wanted to do. But that wasn't something Brooke wanted to think about right now.

His room was empty. Brooke frowned, running fingers through her hair in irritation. He hadn't been at the Grille, he wasn't with Elena, he wasn't with Sheriff Forbes, and he wasn't with Ric. Where the hell was that fucking vampire?

"Stefan, where is he?" She yelled out to the bedroom door and Stefan looked up from his book and sighed. He really did not have time for Damon's games with Brooke. While it was hilarious to see her get mad and kick stuff, he didn't want to be involved. Brooke carried around guns with wooden bullets; she was the last person to fuck with.

"He's up there," Stefan replied loudly and Brooke huffed angrily, glaring at Damon's room.

"DAMON ALEXANDER SALVATORE, WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!?" Brooke screamed obnoxiously and Damon stifled a chuckle at her obvious anger. Already bored with fucking with her emotions, he decided to alert her of his presence.

"In here," he yelled from his bathroom and Brooke stormed to the door, swinging it open without thinking.

"You sick, son-of-a-gun! You heard me calling you and –

Brooke stopped.

Brooke had seen Damon shirtless plenty of times. They spent times together where they just lay around with one another and even she would not have much on. She was used to the sight and yes, every time she saw him, Brooke couldn't deny how much she wanted him. Damon was a fine specimen. But Brooke had forgotten how fine.

Damon stood in the glass shower, relaxed under the pouring hot water that shot out from the showerhead. Steam slapped her in the face the moment she entered the bathroom and fogged up the glass to a certain extent, but it did nothing to hide the gorgeous view. Damon's body glistened from the water and his hair was slicked back, the droplets of water rolling down his very impressive, muscled back. Hell, even his tight ass was turning Brooke on. Brooke could only gape as her entire body heated up at the sight, pupils dilating with lust.

And Damon only chuckled as he caught the spike in her scent.

"Ya know, I have this spot on my back that I just can't seem to reach," Damon's voice called out seductively, snatching Brooke from her very obvious gawking. He turned around fully and Brooke's eyes widened as she saw the smooth, defined planes of his chest which led down to those drool-worthy abs of his. And then her eyes – without her permission – trailed down lower to the defined V that was formed above the small patch of pubic hair and before she could even think about looking further, Damon cleared his throat and Brooke looked up quickly to the amused blue eyes. "Care to help?"

Oh, God. YEEESSSSSS! She'd help alright. But she wasn't sure she'd be focused on just his back. No, Brooke had every mind to lick his abs, tasting the salty deliciousness of his skin combined with the water, and tease his flesh as she kissed up his chest and his neck before devouring his lips and –

No, Damon Salvatore was not seducing her today.

"You knew I was coming," Brooke said, gritting her teeth, and Damon only smirked, staring at Brooke so intensely that she lost her breath and her nipples instantly pebbled responsively, making her whimper almost.

"Are you?" He asked huskily and Brooke truly stopped breathing at that point. Because he was not talking about the same "coming" as she had been and suddenly, Brooke almost felt like she would at the silky seduction in his voice.

Until a thought hit her.

I AM BROOKE FUCKING DAVIS, her mind screamed and her heart and body screamed in protest at that statement, not really caring about who the hell she was. All either of them cared about was having Damon Salvatore all over her. I DO NOT GET SEDUCED. I DO THE SEDUCING. And Brooke agreed.

Glaring at Damon, she stormed up to the shower and reached inside, turning the faucet until icy cold water erupted from the showerhead. Damon gasped in surprise and Brooke only smirked in victory at the sudden horror on his face. However, her triumph died down when Damon grasped her slim waist in his hands and yanked her completely into the shower with him and the cold water hit her hard, the iciness taking her overly-heated skin by surprise. Brooke shrieked as Damon lifted her closer to the water so that it pummeled her back mercilessly.

"Damon," Brooke screamed and gripped his arms tightly. Damon only grinned.

"Payback's a bitch," he only replied and she scowled, her recently styled hair now wet and clinging to her throat and her thin blouse clung to her like a second skin. Brooke kicked her legs and Damon grinned before turning and pushing her against the wall – what the fuck was with him and walls? – with a dark look. Immediately, Brooke could feel herself growing aroused again as Damon pressed himself against her more, his fingers sneaking under the hem of her blouse. Damon's eyes darkened as he felt the still warm, satiny skin of her sides and he squeezed softly, making Brooke moan low.

And Damon growled, a sound that Brooke was actually coming to love. It was animalistic and sent a tremor through her entire body and down to her toes, causing Brooke to shiver. And damn him for being so close that she could almost taste him again, his soft, firm lips brushing up against hers so smoothly –

"Damon," Elena called from the bedroom door and the pair froze, both of their eyes widening.

"ARE YOU FRICKIN' KIDDING ME!?" Caroline shrieked and sat up quickly and Brooke rolled onto the bed so that her face was buried into the nearest pillow to hide her blush. Caroline could not believe that. Sure, the last time Brooke talked about Damon, things had gotten pretty hot and even Caroline had to fan herself. And then this…this was golden!

"I've never been so mortified in my entire life," Brooke admitted in the pillow and Caroline, still grinning, yanked it away to see the almost pink face of the brunette.

"Did Elena catch you?" Caroline asked and Brooke inwardly died. If Elena had walked in, Brooke was sure she'd never be able to look at the Gilbert girl ever again. Sure, she'd been caught before with guys and yes, all of those times had been embarrassing. But she could pretty much picture Elena's reaction and they had just got on good terms.

"Thank God, no," Brooke breathed and sat back up with Caroline. "What the hell is happening to me? I've never felt like this before." She hadn't.

Damon made her nervous to be alone with him and every time he stared at her, Brooke forgot who the hell she was and what her purpose in life was. She forgot the world around her and one touch had her ready to give Damon anything he wanted, even her life. But he was still her best friend and all of their fun times were stuck in her head for life, even the sweet moments. Lucas had never made her feel that way; no one had. Caroline sighed and touched Brooke's hand.

"You're in love with him, Brooke," Caroline reminded her. Brooke was just about to respond when the doorbell rang. Brooke glanced at Caroline curiously, who only shrugged, and hurried out her room with just her socks. Her feet slid on the floor as she ran through the foyer and opened the door wide only to gasp.

And Rebekah smiled.

"Hello, bestie. Missed me?" She inquired and Brooke gaped at her for a minute, her mouth suddenly dry. But she blinked and gave a nervous smile.

"Rebekah, I didn't know you were in town," Brooke told her and Rebekah smirked, stepping into the house and bumping past Brooke. She sensed Caroline and heard the blonde escape the house smartly through Brooke's balcony.

"I bet not." Brooke tensed at the sarcasm. "After all, you and your friends had me staked, remember?" Brooke didn't dare mention that Klaus got her back a while ago and could've un-staked her if he wanted to, but that he'd been a wimp and decided against it.

"Rebekah, I didn't have anything to do with that," Brooke swore and Rebekah appraised her. She could tell Brooke wasn't lying. However, why not screw with her anyway?

"Only one way to find out." With that said, Rebekah charged Brooke until the brunette was against the doorframe and glared down at her, thinking that she was compelling her. But she was scaring Brooke. "Did you plan to have me killed?"

"I already told you I didn't," Brooke replied, staring up at the intense, icy-blue eyes. Rebekah gave her a curious stare before her eyes fell on Brooke's necklace and she nodded, impressed. She reached up for Brooke's necklace, but upon contact, the metal burned her flesh. Rebekah hissed before smirking. "Well, at least he's not as dumb as he acts." Brooke only blinked in surprise as Rebekah folded her arms over her chest. "Well, get your shoes on."

"Where are we going?" Rebekah grinned.

"We have a ball to get ready for. And you can tell me about you and Damon," Rebekah said, holding up an envelope with a devious smirk.

OOOOOOOO

"If Esther wants to talk to me, I think I should go," Elena said as the trio walked into the living room. Damon glared skeptically at her.

"That's a stupid idea. She could kill you if she wants." Stefan shook his head and leaned against the nearest wall.

"No, Elena's right," he said and Elena glanced at him appreciative smile that did not go unnoticed by Damon, who only rolled his eyes. "Bonnie was able to open that coffin for a reason."

"Can we please just go back to the Stefan that used to care about what happened to Elena?" Damon asked, knowing he was pushing buttons, but seriously! He couldn't be the only sitting here and thinking logically. Elena exhaled deeply as Stefan narrowed his eyes at his brother.

"That's your job now," Stefan spat bitterly and Damon was about to reply when the doorbell rang. His eyes cut to the living room entrance and he sped to the door, surprising Elena as she attempted to get there. He opened the door to see Brooke with a white envelope and a pensive expression. He smirked and leaned against the doorframe sexily.

"Missed me already?" He purred and Brooke smiled sweetly at him.

"Of course I did, hot stuff," she cooed before brushing past him and walked into the living room with the former couple, winking at Damon over her shoulder flirtatiously. She nodded to Elena before holding up the envelope. Elena recognized it immediately.

"You have one too?"

"Yeah and not going is not an option," Brooke said, glaring directly at Damon who made a face.

"Over my dead body." Brooke rolled her eyes as Damon stood beside her, ignoring how Goosebumps broke out on her arms as his arm brushed her shoulder accidentally. "You're not going." Brooke cut her eyes at the older Salvatore and Elena watched on, staring in loss at the close proximity of their faces as Damon tried to intimidate Brooke.

"You and I both know that I never listen to you and that this doesn't work," Brooke stated, gesturing to his eyes and demeanor, fighting back a shiver under his gaze. "And I hardly believe Klaus and Rebekah would be okay with my not going."

"But –

"She's right," Stefan decided to cut in, not needing any PDA from the two. He had enough of smelling both of them lusting after each other and right now was not the time. Damon's eyes rose to his brother's and he dared the younger Salvatore to side with her right now. "Neither Klaus nor Rebekah is going to allow her to not arrive and if Esther is trying to make peace, us pissing her kids off won't help." Damon scowled and Brooke grinned in triumph.

"And Rebekah already bought my dress," she decided to add, bouncing on her toes adorably and pouting at Damon. And he wanted to throttle her so badly for that. Cursing under his breath, Damon's eyes landed on a very amused Elena and he glared at her, wiping the smirk on her face away.

"You're still not going," he growled and stormed out of the house. Brooke glanced at Elena. They both knew for sure that Elena was whether Damon wanted her to or not.

OOOOOOOO

"Tiger, do you think going to this ball is a good idea?" Haley asked skeptically when she looked up from her homework as Brooke stepped out of her room in only her towel. Brooke only shrugged, releasing her towel-dried hair from the towel and threw that into her clothes' bin.

"At this point, Tutor Girl, I don't really have a choice," she replied and sat on her bed in front of the laptop. Haley frowned on her side of the webcam, but didn't say anything for a minute. What could she say? She wasn't in Mystic Falls with her Tiger and yes, she was worried. But there was nothing she could do. All Haley could do was be there for her best friend when she needed her. Speaking of being there…

"What does Damon have to say about this?" Brooke rolled her eyes and rubbed some lotion onto her smooth legs.

"He doesn't want me to go." Brooke met Haley's exasperated gaze and huffed. "What? Just because I love him doesn't mean I have to suddenly start doing everything he wants. Damon can't control me." Haley smiled softly.

"It's funny how you can admit that now, but never to him." Brooke pouted at Haley's words. "I'm just saying, Brooke. Even Peyton pointed it out. You hardly ever say how you feel about Damon and you definitely haven't said it to his face."

"Well, what do you want me to say?" Brooke inquired, a bite in her voice that Haley almost didn't detect. "Damon…makes me happy, okay? He irritates me, challenges me, and pisses me off to the point that all I want to do is punch him or scream. But…" Brooke paused for a moment and Haley watched with a small smile, a knowing glint in her eyes. "But then there are those moments where…I'm not Brooke Davis anymore. I'm not a designer, I don't have screwed up parents, I'm not a cheer-leader…and I'm just a girl. And he's there and…I don't have to be scared to be vulnerable with him. Because he still cares for me, even when I'm all that other stuff. He makes me complete."

Haley let that sink as the brunette sat on her bed in a daze, her smile growing with every passing second. It was how she felt about Nathan. Nathan made her forget about everything and just let her be Haley. She could just be with him and he'd never judge, never down her. Being with him was the best part of Haley's life and having his love was her greatest accomplishment. She was glad to see Brooke finally acknowledge how she truly felt.

"Now, what's stopping you from telling him that?" Haley inquired and Brooke glanced at the screen, an uncertain look on her face.

What was stopping her?

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Damon died.

Elena had walked in a few moments ago and yes, she had been stunning. The strapless, immaculate gown really brought out her olive skin tone, the gold accenting her complexion. Her hair was combed to the left side in elegant curls, framing that side of her face prettily and making her look more like Katherine. The gloves made her look classier and she caught a few people's attention, a stately, classy Elena not the Elena most people see. They usually see sporty, casual Elena who hardly wears dresses outside of parties. He couldn't deny how gorgeous she looked and from the dumbfounded, awestruck look on Stefan's face, the supposed Ripper would not be able to deny that either.

And then Brooke and Rebekah came.

The moment she walked into the door, Damon's eyes zeroed on her, ignoring the haughty blonde in green. For once, Damon believed that broody idiot back in Tree Hill said something right; Brooke was the girl behind the red door. And for a reason. She wore a ravishing, strapless and floor-length gown of chiffon material with diamond accents along the bodice that seemed to go around her waist in three lines that intertwined and met up at the center with a diamond gem that glinted in the chandelier light. The sheer sheath of the dress – which fell on the sides about knee-length – flew in the breeze that arrived into the ballroom with her and a sheer shawl was wrapped around her arms. Brooke's lips were painted in the same shade of red, her eyes were lined and there was a sliver of silver eye-shadow on both eyes, and her fair skin seemed to glow with the red contrasting beautifully against her, the dimpled smiled on her face catching a few people's eyes. Her hair was partially gathered up with luxurious, spiraled tendrils cascading over her shoulders and down her back in soft curls. Damon caught the hint of diamond earrings in her ears and faithfully, she wore his necklace.

And he wasn't the only one captivated.

Klaus had been chuckling at something Elijah said about Mystic Falls when a flash of red appeared at the edge of his peripheral. So, he glanced over to the front door and almost dropped his glass of wine. Brooke looked astounding, magnificent, and superb, etc. There weren't a lot of words to describe the brunette as she descended the staircase with his sister, grace and natural beauty exuding from her entire body. He thought the gown that he gave Caroline had been something; Rebekah had outdone herself. Elijah followed his brother's gaze and his eyes landed on the gorgeous brunette conversing with his sister and he nodded in understanding.

"So, that is Brooke Davis," Elijah simply guessed and Kol popped out of nowhere, nodding. He was as impressed as Elijah.

"She's not bad," he commented and Klaus shot him a dark glare. Damn straight, Brooke wasn't not bad. She was fucking perfection. But then Klaus noticed Brooke's eyes land on Damon Salvatore and watched as she smiled shyly at the man, who only smiled back at her. Klaus didn't know what the hell was going on between the two of them, but he knew one thing: he'd have Brooke's first dance. He'd be damned if he didn't.

"Enjoy your evening," Rebekah said as she spotted a very spiffy-looking Matt as he muttered something to some girl in his class. "I have a quarterback to seduce." With that, she strutted over to Matt as Caroline approached Brooke in a sparkly, dazzling blue gown. Brooke smiled instantly.

"You look great," Brooke exclaimed and Caroline waved her off. Everyone could tell; Brooke was the fucking belle of the ball tonight. Miss Mystic Falls had nothing on her.

"Not nearly as good as you do. I'm surprised Damon or Klaus haven't –

"Pardon me, ladies," Klaus interrupted smoothly with his eyes directly on Brooke. Caroline rolled her eyes disgustedly and stepped beside Brooke, eyeing Klaus cautiously. Stefan and Damon had to play nice; nobody said Caroline had to. "But I do believe the first waltz is up. May I?" Klaus extended his hand to Brooke. Glancing at Caroline peevishly, Brooke turned to Klaus a frosty smile and placed her hand in his gently.

"Sure."

"Distract Klaus for a moment," Elena said into her phone as she walked into her bedroom, just getting out of her shower. "Entertain him if you have to. Caroline will try to get Elijah's attention and Matt's with Rebekah. Nobody's concerned with Kol. And if it comes to it, distract Damon." Brooke nodded, sliding into her dress carefully.

"And how do you plan on getting Damon to let you talk to Esther?" Brooke inquired, struggling to lace up the back of her dress. The silky strings kept slipping from her hands and she huffed in annoyance.

"Leave that to Stefan and me," Elena said and Brooke frowned, not sure she would like this plan.

The dance began and Brooke glanced over at Damon, who smiled at Elena gently. She hated how he must have complimented her because the girl blushed and gave him this sweet smile that made Brooke want to slap her again, the closeness in their dancing making her want to vomit. Jealousy ate up her insides and without meaning to her, her hands tightened on Klaus'. He smirked.

"Green doesn't suit you," he whispered to her ear, surprising Brooke because he had been so unnervingly close and she hadn't even noticed. She gasped and turned her face to lock eyes with him, their noses practically touching. "I like you much better in red." Brooke blushed at the compliment before composing herself.

"As long as it's not blood," she replied dryly and Klaus laughed, thoroughly amused with the brunette. He twirled her in time with the music and before long, she was in his arms and he led her in the dance.

"Most women enjoy compliments." Brooke smirked.

"Well, I'm not most women," she retorted and Klaus stared at her for a long time, causing the tiny hairs on the back of her neck to stand up and for her heart to start racing at the intensity of his midnight-blue gaze.

"I know," he muttered and for just a split second, Brooke forgot why she was supposed to hate him and a blush appeared on her cheeks, her fluttering at the low tone of his voice. She smiled a little at him, a genuine and breathtaking smile that made Klaus smile in return.

"Thank you."

Damon glowered. He hated how Klaus stared at his Brooke – and fuck yes, she was his – and wanted to punch the smile off his face. He was the only person that was allowed to make Brooke smile like that. Sure, Damon knew that she didn't have any feelings for the hybrid, but still. Damon did not share. Elena sighed in irritation at him and Damon returned his eyes at him to see her pouting.

"Damon, if Esther wants to talk to me, I have to go. She could be on our side," she whined and Damon inwardly wished he could punch her. He had specifically told Elena not to show up and what did she do? She came. So, now he had to be extra-cautious in case anything were to go down. He didn't feel like having to babysit her tonight.

"No," he snapped quickly just as the partner switch occurred. Skillfully, Damon twirled Elena in his arms until their arms were entwined before practically tossing her in an elegant spin so that she landed in whoever's arms. And caught Brooke in his.

In seconds, Brooke found herself mashed up against Damon's hard, surprisingly warm body. He must've fed today; she concluded. Brooke gasped as soon as they contacted and her eyes rose to meet his as he held one of her hands and placed the other at her lower back, making sure she was trapped against him. Electricity stretched between them as their gazes met, both of them gazing at the other with almost enough emotion to convey what they both felt. The clear blue of his eyes made all of Brooke's breath clog her throat and without hesitation, Brooke placed her free hand on his shoulder and let Damon lead her, smiling automatically.

"Hello, handsome," she said happily, content to be in Damon's arms, and Damon only smiled back at her, letting her twirl for a moment, the sheaths of her gown twirling dramatically. Out of the corner of her eye, Brooke saw Elena drag Stefan away from the dance floor, sparing Brooke a glance before nodding and leaving.

"Hello, gorgeous," he purred down at her and Brooke grinned like an idiot at that compliment, happiness bubbling up inside of her and the butterflies gathering in her stomach. She felt so alive in Damon's arms at this particular moment. "Have I told you how absolutely…ravishing…you look right now?" Brooke shivered at his eyes darkening before putting a thinking face on.

"No, you haven't." Damon chuckled down at her darkly and lowered his face to hers.

"Well, you do." And Brooke smiled even brighter, an adorable giggle erupting from her mouth as Damon twirled her around and then dipped her, bringing her up slowly with a wolfish grin.

OOOOOOOOO

"What the fuck," Brooke hissed as she walked into the room and saw Damon sprawled out on the floor, unconscious. Stefan stood over him and Elena stood beside her with a guilty expression that made Brooke want to punch her so badly that it was painful.

"He'll be down for ten minutes," Stefan said, ignoring Brooke as he stepped over his brother as if he was nothing more than a sack of potatoes. "That gives us enough time –

SMACK!

Brooke slapped Stefan with all of the strength she could muster and his head snapped to the side, Stefan taking it in stride. Sure, it actually stung for her to be human, but that was it. She was human and her slaps didn't hurt. But, if Brooke needed to let her anger out, then by all means! As long as she doesn't start screaming, Stefan was good. Elena winced and Brooke narrowed her eyes at Stefan.

"What the fuck, Stefan?" She spat, glaring at the younger Salvatore brother angrily. She actually liked Stefan. Sure, they were snippy with each other and all, but they were cool. They sat in the living room a lot and read together and he even cooked her breakfast twice. But, when it came to Damon, Brooke played no cut cards.

"He had to," Elena decided to cut in and Brooke turned her fierce stare to the other brunette, hand itching to slap her too. Elena sighed. "He would have never let me see Esther. Brooke, it was the only way." Brooke took a few breaths and closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes, she understood, but she still wanted to slap Elena.

"Elena, go up those stairs before I punch you," she growled and Elena gave her a curious stare as Brooke started coming with her. "What? He's gonna be pissed when he wakes up. He'll be even more pissed if you went by yourself."

After getting things situated with Esther and Elena giving blood for Esther's little plan, Brooke and Elena descended the stairs in tense silence, guilt eating at Brooke's conscience. She was worried about Damon. He should've woken up by now and he'd be so mad at her right now. Elena sighed sadly.

"Thanks," she said to the thoughtful brunette and Brooke glanced at her coldly. "I know that you didn't want to do this, but thanks anyway." Brooke shrugged, ready to get a glance of wine. She didn't want to be a part of the champagne toast. It was the same champagne that would hurt Rebekah and she was not okay with that.

"I had to," Brooke replied. "Damon would have never –

Brooke froze.

And Damon's scowl deepened. His entire body was so intense; Brooke was afraid that at the slightest movement on her part, he'd charge and then somebody would have to prepare her funeral. Elena stopped a few steps after Brooke before following her gaze, her blood chilling at the sight of the strangely calm Damon Salvatore.

"Damon," Elena breathed. Brooke struggled to breathe, wringing her hands together nervously. She took the last few steps down, staring only at Damon apologetically.

"Damon, I –

"Leave," Damon growled, but Brooke was not listening.

"But I –

"NOW," Damon roared viciously and Brooke flinched, actually afraid of his temper. His face had vamped out and everything, the veins appearing around his eyes and his fangs poking out menacingly. She didn't even spare Elena a backward glance; Brooke practically ran back to the ballroom. Elena took a few deep breaths before meeting Damon's threatening stare.

"Damon, you have to –

He didn't let her finish. Without warning, Damon grabbed Elena by her upper arms and yanked her from the stairs, making Elena trip on her feet. But she didn't have time to think about the fact that her feet hadn't touched the floor because Damon had her in his hands and was gripping her so tightly that it hurt. She was sure her arms would be bruised tomorrow.

"You've always fucked up. Always! And I sit here and I let your ass do it because I want to be able to respect your decision," he growled and Elena opened her mouth to protest, but then he snapped, "I'm not fucking done with you." That shut Elena up instantly and she bit her lip, scared to piss him off more than she already had. "You put everyone's life on the line all the time and I do it with you, not caring because Elena is so fucking important that no one else matters as long as she's alive. And then you do some shit like this!

"And what the fuck was Stefan snapping my neck about? Did you really think that I'd be okay with that shit? Or were you that fucking desperate to get your ass killed?" Damon spat those words in her face and Elena flinched before composing herself, steeling her expression.

"Just what are you upset about? My teaming up with Stefan or me not including you?" She asked with the same amount of venom. Some part of her expected some kind of declaration or for Damon to say something that would make her stop thinking.

"Because you put her life on the line," Damon snapped and Elena's eyes widened, something inside of her hurt that it wasn't her that he was worried about. It was Brooke…only Brooke. Elena should have seen it coming, but she hadn't and that hurt. "Because she was doing this crap for my benefit, as if I'm supposed to think any less of her because I care about you."

Okay, that officially stung. Damon had basically just said that he honestly hadn't cared what happened today. The only one he cared for was Brooke and that was surprising because Elena had always believed that Damon truly cared for her – even loved her.

Her eyes widened in realization.

"You love her," she stated bluntly and Damon just stared at her for a moment, not trying to deny it. Because it was in his eyes. Elena shook her head quickly, not ready to go down without a fight. Because Damon knew damn well that they had needed to talk to Esther whether he trusted the woman or not. "Well, maybe that's the problem here."

Elena had said the first thing that came off her tongue.

And that was the wrong thing.

"I'm the liability right now?" He asked incredulously and Elena's breath officially got stuck in her throat, all apologies at the tip of her tongue. She hadn't meant to say that. Not in the slightest, but now she couldn't take it back. "Coming from the girl who complained for an entire year that I haven't been in tune with my feelings? And now those feelings are a liability –

"Yes when you sit here and treat Brooke like a baby," she snapped. "You do it with me and you're doing it with her. You sit here and pretend as if she's obviously not able to protect herself…even after you've given her everything she needs in order to do that." Damon was really ready to throttle the fuck out of Elena.

"But what happens when she's so focused on protecting you that she can't even protect herself? Then what? There's no, 'I'm sorry, Damon,' for you, Elena." But Damon held his hands up in surrender, anger evident on his face. "But, please. I don't want to be the problem in this situation. I won't let my feelings get in the way again."

"Damon, wait –

But he didn't listen and only walked away, leaving Elena guilt-ridden and in pain as she rubbed her officially bruised arms.

OOOOOOOOO

"Damon," Stefan yelled as he ran through the doors just in time to see Damon snap Kol's neck, watched as his brother rose with an almost crazed look in his eyes. "Are you crazy?" Damon glanced at his brother, that rush after causing pain to someone dissipating as both Brooke and Elena ran to the door with him along with a few other people. The disappointed tears in Brooke's eyes stabbed him.

"Maybe a little," he replied, not breaking eye contact with Brooke. She sighed, shaking her head. Elena glared at Damon and he only narrowed his eyes in response. "I didn't mean to make myself such a liability to everyone!" He spat those words and Elena flinched, closing her eyes as she took that in and began to help Stefan keep everyone inside.

Once they were completely alone, neither spoke for a moment. Damon just stood there with this impassive look on his face and Brooke stared back, tears threatening to fall but she held them in. After a few seconds, Damon took careful steps towards her until he was only two steps under the one she was standing on, staring at Brooke on the same eye level. She shook her head again, taking a shaky breath.

"We're going home," she said, finality in her voice and bumped his shoulder as she passed him going down the stairs. After not hearing him move, Brooke whirled around and screamed, "NOW!" Damon turned to face her with narrowed eyes.

"No." If Brooke got any madder, Damon was sure her skin would start to become as red as her dress. But he wasn't exactly sure what she was angry for. About Kol? About earlier? "What the hell are you mad for?"

"I'm mad because I want to punch Stefan and Elena for what they did to you," she cried and inwardly, Damon smirked. "I'm mad that we had to do this stupid linking spell with Esther; Rebekah doesn't deserve that. I'm mad because you sat here and did that to whoever the hell that was. And I'm mad that you're so upset right now." Damon scoffed.

"What the fuck did you expect? For everything to be all fine and dandy?" Brooke glowered, so close to slapping him that it wasn't even funny.

"No, but I'm so fucking sick of you getting upset with everyone else when they endanger your precious Elena!" She spat and Damon walked up to Brooke, towering over her with a clueless and aggravated face. Elena was the last person he was thinking about right now.

"What the fuck does she have to do with this?" Brooke was super angry. Elena had everything to do with everything. She was always there, the constant that kept her feelings at bay. Elena was the reason why Brooke never wanted to spill her feelings, she realized. Because Elena was there and Elena felt something for Damon and Brooke always knew that Damon loved the girl.

"Because she means so much to you and I hate it," she cried and Damon couldn't say anything. He was dumbfounded and that made Brooke explode. "I hate the fact that you care so much about her. I hate that you've put your life on the line for her. I hate that you fell for her." Brooke could feel the words coming out, heard them. But they just fell off her tongue and there was nothing she could do to stop them. "I hated it when you kissed her. I have never felt so hurt and hateful in my entire life. And I hated seeing you dance with her and I hate feeling like this."

"Why?" When he spoke, it was a whisper, voice almost shaking to hear the words he'd only dreamed of Brooke saying.

"Because I love you."

The world seemed to stop for that particular moment; no other sound permeated the area other than the wind that tore through them. Damon could only stare at Brooke in utter shock and surprise, flabbergasted by actually hearing her say those three words. He faintly remembered complaining to Haley and Haley telling him how Brooke felt. But those words had never felt so real.

Until now.

And the tears fell from Brooke's eyes as she realized in horror and complete shock that she just admitted everything to Damon. It had been bound to come out eventually, but Brooke had had so much control before. And just like that, her control had snapped and suddenly, she had spilled and now she felt so bare. It was unnerving. And what was worse was that she couldn't read Damon's face, couldn't read behind the wall of blue in his eyes.

"Let's go home."

OOOOOOOOOO

Both Stefan and Elena sighed as they entered her house, both exhausted and in need of a very strong drink. It had been a long night and Brooke and Damon disappeared after the Kol incident, leaving Stefan and Elena to stay at the ball a little longer for appearance's sake. So, now, both were ready to fall out in their rooms. Plus, it was still tense between them. Stefan glanced at Elena as she pulled off her shrug, sighing again.

"So…uh, Esther wants to kill her whole family," he said. He chuckled at the irony, faintly amused at the turn of events. He knew for a fact that all Klaus wanted was a little family and what happens? His own mother wants him and the rest of his siblings dead. "How's that for mother of the year?" Elena did not find that amusing at all. She was still riling from Damon's actions earlier and she was racked with guilt for being a part of the plan that could kill Elijah.

"Yeah," she replied dryly. "And I got to look Elijah right in the eye and lied to him –

"Good." Elena turned around to Stefan quickly when he said that, noting the serious expression on his face. "I won't be too sorry to see any of them go." Elena sighed, guilt killing her.

"I just signed their death certificates, Stefan." And Stefan understood. It was one of the reasons why he loved her so much. Elena was compassionate and sympathized with everyone. She was the most humane person he had ever met; it was one of the most prominent characteristics that made him fall so deeply in love with her.

"No, you signed Klaus' death certificate, Elena. Everyone else was just collateral damage." Elena gave him a hurt look.

"It's not that simple." Stefan stared at her, still not understanding her logic.

"That family's brought you nothing but darkness, Elena. It is that simple." They had. That family had come for her because she was the doppelgänger and Stefan had hated them ever since. It didn't matter that at one point, he and Klaus had been friends and that he had loved Rebekah. Elena was his only love, the one that he wanted to be with for all of eternity. And they had been trying to steal her away, kill her.

They stood in silence for a few moments and Elena really wished she didn't feel so much distance between the two of them. There was a time when she could just throw herself into Stefan's arms, cry and tell him everything. She could spill all of her guilt and fears and he'd take them and turn them into happy moments that made all the bad times seem miniscule. But they were so far apart and Elena could feel it. Unbeknownst to her, so could Stefan.

"So, where's Damon?" Stefan decided to ask, feeling a part of him longing to gather her in his arms and let her break, let her cry on his shoulder like before and pretend for a moment like they were the same people before he had left with Klaus. "After everything, I was sure he'd want to make sure you got home safely." Elena sighed, not really wanting to talk about Damon. She had a lot of apologizing to do to him and right now, she just wanted to forget.

"I'll call him later," she told Stefan.

"What was with him going after Kol?" Elena sighed.

"Damon being self-destructive. I…I said something I didn't mean. And I really shouldn't have," she explained and Stefan nodding, staring at her in this way that made her feel like she was staring at her Stefan again. Her Stefan would only look at her like that, like he needed her. And he did.

"So did I," he whispered and gave Elena a small smile, which made her tilt her head curiously. "Goodnight, Elena." Elena let him walk out, heart racing because she had caught the tail of…what was that? Regret? Longing? Did he feel like she did? Without second thought, Elena ran to the door and called him.

"Did you…did you really not feel anything?" Elena asked softly and Stefan tried to mask his feelings better, cursing himself for letting his guard down for that split second of staring at her.

"When?" Elena shook her head, not willing to let him act so nonchalant and pretend as if he didn't feel. She refused to believe that she hadn't had that moment of hope, that glimmer of love that had shined in his eyes for that one moment.

"How do you do that? Act like you don't care…like you don't feel anything? Because I can't do that," Elena declared as she walked up to him and ignored Stefan when he said her name, begging her to stop. "I feel, Stefan. I feel everything." She did.

She felt the distance. She felt the agony of him having bit her. She felt the betrayal of when he almost drove her over the bridge. She felt when they sat there and she told him when she told him that she kissed Damon. She felt his kisses in her sleep, the way he used to hold her. She felt those times that they could make love and not give a damn about the impending danger.

"Elena, stop," he begged in a whisper, having to close his eyes for a second to regain control. But Elena gathered his face in her hands lovingly, staring at him with that same innocent, loving expression that she always had.

"I'm not going to stop, Stefan," she swore as she held him and she could feel Stefan tremble in her hold, his entire being shaking with the agony of holding back his emotions. "I don't believe that you don't feel nothing." Stefan glared at her, failing to harden his voice like he so desperately wanted.

"Do you think I want to be this person? I hurt you, Elena – I bit you." Elena watched as the guilt appeared so suddenly in his eyes and she could feel the emotion slapping her in the face, causing her to lose her breath and for her head to become woozy with being this close to Stefan after so long. "I hate myself for what I did to you."

"Then show it," Elena begged, stroking his cheek gently with her thumb as Stefan fought to not keep up with the eye contact. But her eyes were so warm and chocolaty and they tempted him to stare only for him to regret it because the raw emotion pouring from them had him ready to fall to her feet. "Do something. Anything is better than you pretending like you don't care."

Without warning, Stefan's hands covered hers and yanked them off his face, holding them in his hands as if he were at war with either to let her go or keep her there. And Elena just let him hold her, watching his internal struggle through his mesmerizing green eyes.

"If I let myself care for one moment, all I feel is pain," Stefan admitted in a broken tone and then released her, disappearing in the blink of an eye as a tear escaped Elena's eye.

OOOOOOOOO

Brooke sighed as she walked into the house, pushing the door open more because she knew that Damon was right behind her. They hadn't spoken one word since they left the ball and all Brooke wanted to do was hide out in her room for the rest of eternity. Hell, Damon hadn't even looked at her on the drive home. Shaking her head at the stupid tears that pricked her eyes, Brooke began to go down the foyer towards the living room when a large hand grasped her hand, forcing her to turn around and look at Damon.

"Brooke…" He murmured, staring down at her with intensely dark blue eyes. And Brooke could only stare back for a few minutes. At that moment, nothing else needed to be said, not one word needed to be uttered. One look in his eyes and Brooke was snared in a never-ending sea of vastly, stormy blue.

All at once, they were a clash of mouth, hands and teeth as they fought to taste, feel and breathe each other in completely, molding together so perfectly that it almost felt like they could defy the laws of matter and truly occupy one space. Damon grabbed Brooke by her waist and she gasped when he walked her into the nearest wall, mouth never leaving hers. His hands were everywhere; running down her arms and holding her body against his, not trying to leave any space between them. And she was no better as she shoved her tongue against his, snaking the appendage into his mouth before moaning at the subtle sweetness in his mouth. Her hands tugged at the jacket he wore and Damon threw it off, hands at the back of her dress. Growling in frustration, Damon whirled her around so that her back was facing him as he ripped at the lacings of the gown, he nipped and sucked at Brooke's throat, causing her to moan breathlessly as she reached back with her hands to pull him closer and running her fingers through his soft hair. Brooke could hardly breathe, but Damon didn't truly give her the chance as he trailed his lips to her ear and nipped at her earlobe, and Brooke panted. At a particularly hard nip that made Brooke cry out in ecstasy, Damon ripped the lacings of the dress completely and yanked it off, revealing the matching red lace underwear she sported that made him grow harder in his pants.

In a blur, Brooke found herself against Damon's door as his hand slid up to her breast and gave a squeeze, causing her to moan again. She whimpered and pressed herself against him as much as she possibly could, jumping up and wrapping her legs around his waist tightly while kicking her silver heels off. Instinctively, Damon ground his hardened length against her barely clothed heat and Brooke let out another moan, kissing down his jaw before nibbling there. She trailed her lips to his throat as Damon's hands slid down her smooth back before gripping her ass, squeezing when she started grinding against him. She mewled and Damon growled, capturing her mouth again as he slammed into his bedroom, not even caring if he broke the fucking door.

All that mattered was that he made love to Brooke.

Now.

Brooke bounced on the gigantic bed as Damon deposited her on it, his eyes staring at her so hungrily that the heat gathered between her thighs and moisture seeped out, soaking her panties. Damon immediately went to work with her shirt and Brooke rose onto her knees before him, yanking at his belt buckle and throwing it to the floor. Once that was out of her way, Brooke worked on unbuttoning his jeans, mouth latching onto the exposed skin of his abdomen the second his shirt was being pulled over his head. Damon groaned as Brooke kissed up his stomach and chest, peppering his skin with little bites accompanied by teasing licks. He ran his fingers through her hair as she finally unbutton his pants and pulled her face up, catching her in a searing kiss. Brooke wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling Damon closer, and surrendered to him as his tongue plundered her mouth, kissing her for all she was worth. She pulled Damon down with her on the bed as she lay back and Damon fell between her legs. His hands trailed to her back and with one click, the bra was off and discarded over their shoulders.

"Fucking beautiful," Damon murmured against her lips and Brooke whimpered as he palmed her breast, watching the way she closed her eyes and her mouth fell open as she arched into his touch. Damon kissed down her body for a second before he came to her breasts and while still massaging one, he latched onto the opposite nipple and Brooke surged into his mouth, nails raking over his scalp as a breathless moan escaped her. Every nerve in her body was suddenly on fire and her nipples had never felt so sensitive until now. Damon sucked harder and Brooke arched her back, biting her lower lip to stifle the small scream.

"Damon," she whispered and Damon kissed down her chest and he rubbed his face into her warm belly, tongue circling her navel before dipping in. Brooke gasped, fingers still in his hair, and Damon smiled up at her, loving the look of pure pleasure on her face.

Brooke opened her eyes for a second to stare Damon in the eyes as he slid her panties down her legs, a whimper coming out at the animalistic flare in his eyes. In desperation, Brooke grabbed his face and yanked him back to her, moaning when he was situated between her thighs again. She wrapped her arms around his back and dug her nails into the flesh as Damon grinded against her bare, soaked core and she squealed.

"Damon, please," she begged softly and he pushed down his pants and boxers – with her impatient assistance – in one movement. He kicked them and his shoes off swiftly before grinding his enlarged and very aroused cock against her nether lips and Brooke moaned loudly, clinging to him as she tightened her legs around his waist, begging breathlessly, "Please."

Without second thought, Damon grabbed his member and shoved it into her. They both hissed upon contact, holding onto to each other for dear life as he speared through her tight canal. Fuck, she was tighter than he had expected and so fucking hot and wet; he almost came then and there. But Damon held through before staring down at Brooke's face, her entire face contorted in pleasure with a twinge of pain. It had been so long, so long since she'd been with anyone. Since that kiss on the beach, Brooke hadn't seen anyone that could take Damon Salvatore off her mind. And he was so damn big; she felt so full, like he was stretching her to the point of madness.

And then she opened her eyes and they locked gazes, both panting. Her heart raced tremendously as she stared up at the clear blue eyes above her, a sense of contentment washing over her. Smiling softly, Damon propped himself on his elbows and ran his fingers through her hair, his thumb stroking her cheek gently that random tears sprung to Brooke's eyes.

"I love you," she whispered brokenly and Damon leaned down, kissing her so tenderly that Brooke trembled in his arms.

"I love you too," he muttered, pulled out until only the tip remained, and then thrust back in smoothly, making love to her like his life depended on it. And Brooke surrendered to the feeling, holding Damon closely and never letting go.

Never wanting to let go again.