Chapter 11

Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire Diaries. I'm just borrowing.

Note: Previously, in "Stranger Things Have Happened," Mason shows up and tries to make trouble, and Damon stops him.

Hey, guys! Sorry I haven't updated (the last time being July 18, 2014), but I was busy with other projects which took up much of my time. Anyway, seeing as how this is the second anniversary of this story (it was published on February 11, 2013), I thought I'd treat you guys to an update. No spoilers, you'll have to see for yourself.

Mikaelson Art Gallery – 2 Months Later...

Elena sipped the coffee in front of her as she went about her tasks at the gallery. It had been two months since Mason was arrested and life seemed to go back to normal. Or at least, as normal as things could get in a small town such as this. In either case, Elena had recovered from the ordeal and was ready to put everything behind her, especially now that she knew that her asshole ex would never see the light of day again thanks to Damon and his connections.

"Working hard, I see."

Caroline's voice startled her and she looked up at the blonde. "Yeah, your husband is counting on me to get things ready for the big show that's going to be held in the square after Thanksgiving." She smiled at Anastasia. "Oh, Caroline, she's getting so big. It seems like she was just born."

"I know, right? It's scary," said Caroline. "But, Nik and I love our little princess, and we couldn't imagine our lives without her. And Liam is a such a good big brother. He can't stop bragging about his little sister to his friends."

Elena nodded and was about to reply when Klaus approached them, having heard what the two ladies were talking about. "My ears must be ringing, because I could swear that I'm hearing my lovely wife talking about me."

"Well, we were mostly talking about Anastasia," said Caroline. "But, your name did come up."

Klaus smiled and kissed her before giving his daughter a kiss on the forehead. "Hello, my little princess. Being a good girl for Mommy?"

Elena watched the happy parents and suddenly saw the door to the gallery opening. When she saw Damon coming in, she was surprised. What was he doing here? It was a school day, so he should've been at work at this time. He probably has someone covering for him, like the last time.

"Hey, everyone."

Caroline looked over at Damon as he got closer, giving Anastasia to Klaus. "Hey, Damon. This is definuitely a surprise. I suppose you're here to see Elena?"

"Partially, yes," he replied. "Though, seeing you is always a treat, seeing as how Stefan is related to the Mikaelsons by marriage." He looked at Klaus, who was cradling Anastasia in his arms. "I see that Klaus is getting adjusted to fatherhood again."

"Yeah, he is," said Caroline. "He just can't get enough of her. Then again, he was like this when Liam was a baby too, so we're getting a repeat of how he was eight years ago." She giggled. "Well, if you'd like, we can give you and Elena some privacy and..."

"Don't bother, Blondie," said Damon. "Elena and I are going to give you and Klaus some privacy."

Caroline nodded and walked away. As soon as the blonde went over to her husband, Damon made his way over to Elena, smiling at her as he noticed her surprised expression. "I take it you're surprised to see me?"

Elena nodded. "A little, yes."

"I'm sorry, for not only surprising you, but also for making it seem like I was avoiding you the past two months," said Damon. "I figured that after the incident with...him, you would need some time to recover and to spend some much needed time with Evan. I wanted to respect you enough to give you that time to yourself."

"Damon, please, you don't have to apologize," said Elena. "It's true that I needed some time to recover from what happened two months ago and I appreciate the fact that you were willing to give me the time I needed to find myself again." She sighed. "You're a good man, Damon. I don't know what Evan and I would've done if you hadn't come into our lives like this."

Damon smiled again and kissed her gently before he said, "How about we get out of town, just the two of us?"

"Get out of town?" said Elena. "Damon, you can't be serious."

"I am serious," said Damon. "I know that it seems like I'm springing this on you at the spur of the moment, but I want to do this. I need this. You need this. We both need this." He took her hand, squeezing it. "Think about it, Elena, we haven't had a moment together for two months, and this will be the perfect time to do it."

"What about Evan? I'm going to need someone to watch him."

"Dante can watch him," said Damon. "He already thinks of Evan as his little brother and if we tell him that we need him to look after him while we're away, I doubt he'll say no."

Elena bit her lip as she considered what Damon was telling her. During the two months she was spending in recovery, she had missed being with him so much and was wondering when she'd ever see him again, as well as wondering if she'd get to taste his hot, delicious kisses and if she'd get to be in his bed again, holding him close after hot, passionate sex.

Licking her lips, she said, "All right, I'll take you up on your offer. I've missed you so much, Damon, and if I go another day without being with you, I'll go crazy, and I'd hate for anyone to think that I'm a nympho."

Damon laughed. "A nympho, huh? I see that I brought out the bad girl in you." He kissed her again, nibbling on her bottom lip. "I'll call Dante after I leave here so that I can arrange for him to look after Evan. In the meantime, maybe you can convince Klaus to let you leave work early so that you can get ready for our trip?"

"I think I shouldn't have difficulty with that, since I'm such a hard worker," said Elena. "So, where are we going on this trip of ours?"

"Ah, ah, ah, it's a surprise."

"A surprise?" said Elena. "Damn it, Damon, I hate surprises."

"Trust me, angel, you'll love this surprise."

Elena sighed, knowing that she couldn't argue with him, especially not when he had obviously gone to all this trouble just to plan a romantic getaway for them. After all, she had been wanting to express her gratitude to him for helping get rid of Mason.

"All right, I'll play along," she said finally. "I trust you, Damon."

"That's my girl," said Damon. "God, I can't wait to get out of here so that I can have you all to myself." He ran his thumb over her bottom lip. "I've missed being with you just as much as you've missed being with me, so this will be worth both of our whiles."

Kissing her one more time, Damon walked out of the gallery. Elena watched him go and found herself wanting to run after him. However, she told herself that she'd have plenty of opportunities to do that wherever it was he was taking her for their romantic getaway. Caroline noticed her behavior and smiled at her.

"Go ahead, get out of here, you lovesick girl," she said. "Nik and I will handle things."

Elena looked toward the blonde. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, we're sure," said Caroline. "Go be with Damon. It's obvious that you want to. I've seen the way you've been acting the past two months. Going that long without being with the man you love makes you feel like half a woman. I know I'd be that way if I was away from Nik for an extended period. Granted, I wouldn't be entirely alone, since I'd have the rest of my in-laws around, as well as my mom, but it wouldn't be the same if Nik wasn't there."

"I think she gets the picture, Caroline," said Klaus, his focus more on Anastasia than his wife. "But, I do agree that we have things well in hand here."

Elena nodded and without a word to them, she walked out of the gallery and to her car, her mind still on the trip Damon was planning.

I wonder what he has in mind for us?, she thought. Even though he did say it would be worth both our whiles, it still begs the question of what that could possibly be. Oh well, guess I'll find out when we get there.

She climbed in, started the engine and drove off to her house to prepare for the new adventure she was about to embark on with the handsome teacher that had saved her in more ways than one.

Note: Better late than never, huh? I know that cliffhangers are a bitch, but this is necessary for the next chapter. Stay tuned for more!

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