Disclaimer: I do not, have not and will not own The Vampire Diaries
Chapter Eleven- Knitting
Damon had no idea as to how he got dragged into that. Elena had just recently decided to take up a hobby her mother had taught her, knitting, and, somehow, Damon had ended up agreeing to help her with it. He groaned lowly, wondering why would he ever agree to something like that. He had never tried it, but he had seen his mother making sweaters for him and his brother and it surely didn't look like fun. But, on the good side, he got to spend some more time with Elena, to talk to her in private and to watch her as she strained to get the stitches right. In a way, he didn't regret whatever he had done to get himself sucked into that.
He smiled as he glanced at Elena. She had her hair pulled back to avoid knitting it together with the yarn. Her eyes kept turning from a book to her work, as she attempted - and failed miserably - to copy the movements demonstrated on the pictures. She let out a loud groan of frustration and dropped the needles. Damon had to put his hand over his mouth to hold back a small laugh.
- Need any help? -He asked her, raising an eyebrow.
- No, I'm fine.
- It sure doesn't look like it. - Commented Damon, returning his attention to his work.
- Fine. Will you help me?
- What's the magic word? - He kidded, smiling.
- Please? - Elena grunted, rolling her eyes.
Damon got up and, rather gladly, moved to her side. He glanced at the book and tried to understand the complicated images that it displayed, but only half of his attention was on it. He was enjoying their proximity, which they usually didn't get unless they were in a dire situation. He didn't want to move away. He wanted to stay there, beside her, forever. But he knew he had to teach her how to do what the book was telling her to or she would realize that all he wanted was to be near her, so he pulled his attention back to real life.
As he did so, he noticed that he had been absentmindedly caressing her skin with his thumb and she hadn't moved away. He smiled. He knew that if he pointed it out she would pretend to be offended and say that she didn't feel it, but he liked knowing that, more or less, she returned his affection.
- Ok... You have to pass this here - He picked up her hand and guided it through the movements.
He could feel the warmness of her hand against his and the touch of her soft skin on his hand. He could hold her forever and just forget about time, about Originals, even about his little brother, Stefan. He wanted to be with her more than he wanted anything else. He wished she knew how much he cared.
Before he realized, he had already helped her through the whole page of the book. He cursed the book for having such short lessons.
- Oh, I get it! - She smiled that radiant smile that made it impossible for Damon's lips not to twitch up - Thanks!
He nodded, frustrated by having to move away so soon. He could have taught her all day long and he wouldn't even notice time passing. But even as the turmoil of emotions that being close to Elena gave him agitated itself, he smiled. He knew that, deep down, she cared about him.