Elena's cheeks were flaming, she felt as though they had been caught red handed. She took a deep breath in, wondering how long he had been in the room. She hoped it was only briefly, terrified Stefan had witnessed the moment between her and Damon. She couldn't bear it if he found out that way, he deserved better than that.
Stefan stood waiting for her response, when she didn't reply his eyes rested on Damon. Firing questions off at him, "Where the hell have you been? Why didn't you answer your phone? Why is Klaus here, what have you done now?"
Damon had lost some of his composure, obviously wondering the same thing as she. He was lost for words, silence filled the room. She could see his eyes darting around looking for an escape route.
Stefan asked again, 'What is it you need to tell me Elena?" She looked helplessly at him.
Damon cleared his throat, "Stefan, I saw Elena out in the corridor, she wasn't feeling too well so I brought her in here." He looked at her, his eyes trying to convey with her to go along with his version of events. She shook her head.
Taking control she stepped forward, "Stefan, there's something I.." she was cut short when Liz the town sheriff ran past the open doors, she was in a panic over something.
Liz noticed them standing in the room, popping her head in she said, "Someone has been hurt there was an explosion," eying Damon off, she said "You, come with me. " Stefan stepped forward she told him, "I don't think it's a good idea for you to be around this, stay here."
Stefan started to say something, "Liz.." but Damon ushered her away calling over his shoulder, "Keep a close eye on Elena. I'll be back soon."
She stood uncomfortably with Stefan until he finally broke the ice. He said, "Something is different about you, you seem more confident and sure of yourself. I've noticed it ever since I got back."
She fidgeted with the pins in her hair, wishing she was anywhere but with him right now. Her heart was pounding, knowing that she was this close to telling him the truth. "Maybe I am Stefan, I had a lot of growing up to do when you were gone."
He pulled out one of the plastic chairs to sit down dropping his head in defeat. "I knew my decision to leave, there were going to be consequences."
Elena felt in limbo, she desperately wanted to tell him the truth. She remembered what Rick had told her, the truth would set her free. She took a seat next to him.
His eyes looking dull and lifeless, "Something's changed between you and Damon." Her face froze, "Tell me Elena, what you feel for Damon? Do you have feelings for him?"
She said quietly, "Stefan it's not that simple."
He laughed bitterly, "Either you do or you don't. Which is it?"
She didn't want to hurt him he had already lost so much. But he was right, he had to know. She decided to ignore Damon's advice about not telling Stefan, she was finished with this charade. "Damon and I.. There is no easy way to tell you, yes I'm in love with him."
His hands clenched into tight fists his skin turning white. "I should have known! But damn Elena, I thought we had something special?"
"Of course we did Stefan. I'm so sorry." She felt terrible, wanting to comfort him but she wisely kept her distance.
He glared at her, "Then why all the lies? What was that all about then? You played me for a fool!"
She whimpered, "I'm so sorry, but that was the only way I could get through to your humanity. I know it was wrong, but you needed to come home."
He snapped, "Come home to what? What is keeping me here now?"
"Stefan. I tried to fight it, deny it but there was only so much I could ignore and bury my head in the sand." She threw her hands up in the air exasperated. "I didn't want to do this to you, I still care about you."
He looked at her in disbelief, "Well obviously you didn't try hard enough did you Elena? That you could be so easily be swayed by my brother, I left the door wide open for him when I left. I'm so angry about your deceit, both of you playing some twisted game."
Elena's eyes clouded over, she didn't know what else to say. He was full of hate and anger standing up to leave just as Damon walked through the door. "Some idiot thought it would be a good idea to light up near the beer kegs, pretty stupid thing to do huh?"
Neither of them answered, his brow furrowed looking between Stefan then back to her. She was sure he noticed something was amiss because something registered on his face, he looked angry.
Stefan approached Damon standing front on, "Speaking of idiots, what do you think about one's that steal their brother's girl?"
Damon's face turned white, he took a step back glancing in her direction with remorse. "I can't apologize enough, I'm sorry Stefan."
Stefan lashed out, "No, you're not sorry Damon. How long have you waited for this moment?"
He winced, "I know you are hurting, let's go and talk about this somewhere brother."
Stefan said scathingly, "Just leave me the alone, I can't be around either of you right now." He moved into the corridor as one of the towns folk walked past, a middled aged woman Elena did not recognise. She looked up frightened when Stefan stood there menacingly blocking her way, before he chomped down on her neck leaving her for dead.
Elena was screaming, "Stefan, no!"
He was gone, Damon rushed to the girl's side to find she was breathing just. He broke his skin with his teeth, feeding her. She gagged then her eyes flittered open, he breathed a sigh of relief. Compelling her, "You fell down the stairs, you broke your wrist. That's what you remember, now go." He helped her to her feet, turning she hurried away the same way she came.
Damon leant his arms up against the wall, head resting on the mantle. "I told you it wasn't the right time Elena to tell him. Why didn't you listen to me?" he turned accusingly towards her.
She took a deep breath approaching him, "He needed to know, I refuse to play along with this charade any longer. I can't pretend anymore." She touched his arm.
"I can't deal with this guilt right now, it's killing me Elena. When I ask you not to do something will you just listen to me?"
"I'm not going to apologize Damon, what's done is done. I'm sorry we hurt Stefan, but I'm not sorry that I'm in love with you."
He pulled her gently towards him, her head nestled against his chest murmuring into her hair, "What are we going to do?"
Damon escorted her out of the building the evening was thinning out, people were leaving the hall. She shivered not just from the cool breeze but also because she was worried. Elena leant back against his car, he placed his jacket over her shoulders, "I'll drive you home, then I need to go and look for Stefan."
She agreed, thinking how Stefan must be feeling now the truth had been told. She felt a pang of guilt, "I hope I haven't caused him to flip the switch again Damon. I couldn't bear it if he did."
Damon grimaced, "Don't worry about that now. Let's just get you home nice and safe," as he gently pushed her inside the car.
They approached her front porch, each of them lost in their own thoughts about the recent happenings. He eventually told her, "Stay here I'll go in first and check everything out." She waited as he swept through the house checking all the rooms.
She sat down on the wooden swinging chair, the night was quiet except for the sound of crickets and a couple of dogs barking. She looked behind, her nerves frayed to the core. Damon came out taking a seat next to her, he placed his arm over her shoulder his thigh pressing closely against hers. Her body responded to his closeness, tonight's encounter still fresh in her mind. She whispered, "I've missed your touch."
He looked at her longingly, "I know baby, I know."
She adjusted herself a little on the seat, eyes meeting his she said seriously, "Damon, I don't want there to be secrets between us, you need to be honest with me now and forever."
"Elena, I can't tell you what's going on with Klaus. You will understand." He looked at her hoping his words spoke the truth.
She grasped his hand, "Understand what? I don't like what I am hearing."
His hands traced over her shoulders, "Please Elena, no more questions not tonight." He leant forward kissing her chastely on the cheek, "The house is safe, please go to sleep. I'll be back soon to check on you. I need to see if I can find Stefan."
He left leaving her alone with her thoughts. Walking the stairs, she went to the bathroom removing her makeup and changing into her pj's. She pondered around her room, straightening out clothes she hadn't hung back in the wardrobe, shoes left on the floor, and placing dirty laundry in the hamper. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep, too much happened tonight her mind ticking over. Stefan finally knew the truth, she loved Damon. She felt the happiness she could freely admit it, but at what cost did that mean to Stefan? Was he going to turn back into the ripper mode with a vengeance to cover his pain? Just seeing what he did to that girl earlier tonight, didn't bode too well. She didn't want him to leave town again, he belonged here this was his home.
She moved over to the seat by the window, opening the box underneath she pulled out her journal, she flicked slowly back through the pages.
Dear Diary
Today... Stefan and I had the talk about what our future holds. I told him I never wanted to be a vampire. I liked my human life, there were things I wanted to look forward to. He understood I think, that the life he had wasn't for me. I want to be with him, but not for eternity only until such time that I take my last breath and pass away naturally.
Her eyes starting getting tired and droopy, yawning she fell asleep.
The sun filtered through her bedroom, the rays shining in her eyes. She checked her watch, 5am again! She groaned, she must have a thing for fives. Feeling a heaviness on the other side of her mattress, smiling she said, "How long have you been here?"
His face hovered over hers, "Since early this morning, you were sound asleep. I didn't want to wake you." He moved forward kissing her lips.
Elena murmured, "Mm you should have woken me."
He laughed, "The way you were snoring, no chance."
She swatted his hand, "I don't snore." Then frowning she asked, "Did you locate Stefan?"
He moved his hands behind his back looking towards the ceiling, "No, but I know Stefan, he won't leave MF. He's coming back, his pride is a bit battered right now."
She rolled closer to him, "I hope so, I don't want to be the reason he leaves."
He kissed the top of her head asking, "Did you sleep ok, you know with everything that has been happening?"
Elena jolted up did she fall asleep with it open? Her eyes searching around for it, noted it was sitting up on her dresser closed. She answered, "Why do you ask?" wondering if he had taken a sneak peek through her journal.
He must have sensed something from her because he replied, "I didn't read it Elena, but when I moved to put you to bed, I couldn't help but notice a couple of words on the page you had open."
She shifted uncomfortably, "Damon that was a long time ago. Things have changed, that's not what I want anymore." She leant onto his chest looking into his eyes.
He searched them, wanting to believe, "I think that's what you will always want Elena, which is only natural after all you are a human."
She shook her head, "No Damon. That was before I knew what I felt for you. Nothing can change it, not now." She reached touching his face.
He looked away, "I don't want to take you away from that life Elena. I love you enough not to do that."
Her heart pounded with fears, "No please. If this is the one time I want you to be selfish that time is now." She pulled him close, "Don't you ever think of letting me go, I'm yours."
They stared at each other she lifted her hand entwining her fingers with his. He watched as her free hand moved up over his arm and down his muscular chest. She chewed on her lip for a second before she moved her mouth to his. The kiss was gentle, she felt him relax against her, his arms embracing around her body, the kiss deepening. He rolled her over onto her back his body weighing her down, his hands slid over her body, lips kissing her neck where they stilled on her erratic pulse, she said, "Damon I want you to.."
He murmured against her soft skin, "Do what?"
"I want you to make love to me, it's been too long."
His lips swooped down on hers, his hands pulling her singlet top from her chest exposing her breasts. He cupped them in his hands as she moaned against his mouth, one hand slid down removing her shorts, his fingers lightly tracing over her thighs. She pulled at his clothes, wanting to feel his skin with that body chiselled to perfection underneath. He felt so good against her, the passion overcoming them both.
They lay entangled, her head resting on his shoulder, his hand possessively around her waist. She was so happy in love. "Damon, I've missed this being close to you."
He smiled, "Likewise sweetheart, do you know how hard it was saying no to you?"
She smiled with satisfaction, knowing she affected him as much as he did her. "What do we do now? Let other people know?"
Damon stilled, "I don't think we should be broadcasting this yet."
"We have already waited long enough. I want to tell the world that I love you." She kissed him passionately. She pulled away, leaving him wanting more he pulled her back his lips inches from his.
"I can't get enough of you. Yes Elena, we love each other, but it's not the perfect time to be shouting it from the rooftops."
She looked at him confused, "You told me when this was over we were going to be together, well I'm ready let's do this."
"Elena, there is a time and place for that, not now"
She was getting nervous, worried she asked, "Why are you postponing this? I thought it was what you wanted Damon. Do you not want this anymore?" her voice broken.
He grabbed her wrist, "What's all this about? How can you ask me that? You know how I feel about you."
"Then what is going on?" she got out of bed, slipping on a pair of track pants and long-sleeved top. She watched his face, he gave nothing away. "Are you keeping me at bay because of something to do with Klaus?"
His face remained emotionless, "I told you not to worry about Klaus, Elena."
"You need to be honest with me. Whatever you have done, you need to tell me now."
They were interrupted by a call on her cell. She contemplated letting it to go to voicemail, but changed her mind fishing around in her bag, Bonnie. Her heart pounding, wondering if her friend had figured out what Damon was up to. She said to him, "We are not done here, just give me a sec," turning away from him.
She picked up the call, "Bonnie, do you have any news?" She listened, her eyes widening in surprise,then utter despair as she turned slowly towards Damon only to find he had gone, her window open with the curtains flapping in the breeze.