~ 6 days, 5 hours, 40 minutes and 30 seconds of you ~
Disclaimer: I do not own TVD only the twisted plot.
AN: *THANK YOU* to all that have sent me reviews and PM's and I am *sorry* I haven't replied any in 2 weeks. I have been so busy writing (and living) that i figured that you all would prefer stories updates than personal replies. Hope I'm forgiven!
This chapter was supposed to be up yesterday but FF wasn't letting me log in *again*! So here is the final chapter to this little interlude. Enjoy!
Elena nodded in understanding.
"Fine!"- she huffed - "Give me one of those bloody blood bags."
"Sorry babe, but a blood bag won't do for your first feed Elena." - Damon said softly and saw the pain and horror take over her face as she slowly shook her head.
"Oh no... No, I can't. Damon... I can't ..." - tears starting afresh.
"That is why I am here Elena." - Alaric's voice jolted her. She had completely forgotten about his presence with the way the whole Stefan drama unfolded.
When the meaning of Alaric's words became clear to her, she bolted up and started to walk backwards immediately trying to put the couch between them.
"What?" - Elena looked from Damon to Ric like a deer caught in the headlights -."No! Have you gone insane Ric?"- she looked at Damon pleadingly.
"Damon thinks so." - Ric acknowledge the way she was looking at his friend -"But the truth is that you need to feed Elena and who better than me? "- he smiled wiggling his fingers at her showcasing his ring -"I cannot die because of this nifty little ring your mother gave me."- he sighed wistfully - " It is kind of poetic really, don't you think? Life's come full circle."- he smiled at Elena kindly - "So you can drink me up like a good aged whiskey and watch me spring back to life. Cool uh?" - Ric shrugged.
Elena blanched. -"Wha-what if I lose control? No, Ric..." - her eyes widened - "I can't...you cannot be serious...you are not a happy meal!"
"He is dead serious." - Damon offered wriggling his eye brows -"Get it?"
Elena rolled her eyes and automatically slapped him over the couch, but couldn't stop a little smile from showing on her lips.
Damon took her hand and brought it to his mouth, lightly kissing her knuckles and making her eyelashes flutter. From where he was seated Damon escorted her around the couch and sat her down. Elena was glued to his blue eyed gaze like a magnet.
When she finally looked around searching for Ric it startled her because he had sat on the floor at her feet and in a clear invitation. The whole thing felt so wrong to her that she didn't even know where to start. Truth be told she was parched, but this was one of the two family persons she had left. At the same time he was her parental figure, his aunt's ex boyfriend, her teacher and friend. Elena had been bitten enough times to know it could be painful or blissful and whilst she didn't want to hurt Alaric, the thought of making this in any way sexually good to him just made her balk.
"Come on Elena, you know you want to." - Alaric sing-songed bringing her out of her reverie.
Elena crossed her arms and huffed - "I would never." - she said indignant despite the hunger she felt searing through her.
It was Damon's turn to roll his eyes as he bent his head to rest on her lap and brought his hand over Ric's neck. Elena's eyes were riveted as she watched her lover wrap a strong hand around Alaric's neck. For a moment it occurred to her what an erotic picture they made together, specially when she saw Damon's tongue sneak out and lave the spot he was about to bite. Alaric's shuddering reaction and the sight of Damon's hot lips clamping over the other man's neck made her dizzy. Before Elena could reason, Damon had pierced Ric's skin and took a bit of his blood. He let Ric go, got on his knees and reached out for Elena's face bringing her in for a kiss. Elena stared at him wide eyes as he pulled her to him, but when his lips met hers she melted. As their lips parted, Damon let the blood pour into her mouth. Elena tried to move away at first, but Damon was strong and the kiss was demanding. Then the blood hit her tongue and it was Damon that couldn't get away as she sucked his mouth clean.
When she pulled away, a tear filled with regret and acceptance was running down her cheek. Damon caught it with his finger and gave her a sad encouraging smile. Elena nodded weakly and bent down to embrace Ric.
"I'm sorry..." – Elena whispered against his cheek lingering a moment before clamping her mouth on the open wound on Alaric's neck.
Ric relaxed in Elena's arms as he felt her soft lips drink him in. He leaned his head against her shoulder and placed a reassuring hand on the arm that held him surrendering fully. He had hoped that there would be no sensual side to his sacrifice, but the moment Damon touched him he knew there was no hope. The drinking act in it self was sensuous, the area they were biting him was also a hot spot. Whether it was a guy or a girl doing the laving, the kissing, the biting or the drinking, it clearly didn't matter to his body. His libido didn't seen to have any respect either for the social rules he lived by. All Ric could do what internally growl at the feelings and sensations rushing through him and hope that Damon didn't use it as ammunition later.
Elena was in heaven. The blood flowing through her lips was so satisfying that she clung to Alaric with adoration and need. When she felt Damon's hand on her shoulder she wanted to bite it of. When Damon increased the pressure of his touch Elena let Ric go and his body slumped to the floor before she could react. Damon couldn't repress a laugh, but Elena had her hands clamped over her mouth and eyes wide in horror. She had killed him...
Her eyes looked pleadingly at Damon who reached a hand to caress her cheek before picking Ric from the floor and slinging him over a shoulder.
"You are coming babe?" – he reached his hand for her and Elena took it.
They both ascended the stairs silently and went down the corridor to an empty guest room. Damon laid Alaric gently in the middle of the generous bed. Elena looked t Ric's dead form and wiped the tears of her cheeks.
Damon turned towards her and took in her dejected looks, reaching out and hugging her tight.
"Elena, he will be fine. You know better than worry sweetheart." – he whispered into her hair.
"I know…" – she replied softly and moved away from his embrace –"Thank you."
Damon smiled and moved to the door.
"Common.' - he beckoned - "Sleeping beauty needs his rest." – he smirked.
Elena smiled but shook her head and turned away from him. She climbed on the bed next to Ric , laying down and placing her head over his heart, her arm over his body and his arm over her shoulders.
Damon looked at the tender gesture of love slightly taken aback. He knew, Elena loved his friend and that for all intents and purposes he was the only parental figure she had left. As he took on the dry tears marking her cheeks, and how she was draped over Alaric like a child over her favorite pet, Damon felt a sting of pity for his brother. He knew Stefan would heal in time, but the expression in his little brother's face would haunt Damon for decades to come. The hollowed eyes spoke of a heart broken into dust like particles because the hurt and destruction were inflicted on him by the two people Stefan had loved best. Damon sighed and closed the door behind him, deciding to give the teacher's pet some privacy and go make love to his bourbon until it dulled the guilt eating him up inside.
.
.
.
Elena waited until she was sure that Damon was out of ear shot and sat on the bed reaching for Damon's phone. She had borrowed it when they had made their way to the guest bedroom and hoped that Damon hadn't noticed it.
She turned the phone and scanned through the contacts. When Elena found the number she was looking for, she took a deep breath and pressed call. The phone rang a couple of times before a sultry voice answered.
"Hello lover... is this a booty call?" – Katherine's voice covered the distance.
"It's Elena Katherine." – to her surprise Katherine laughed delighted.
"Hello Sweetheart." - Katherine drawled in a sickening sweet but threatening voice - "Calling me to ask for tips on how to get a Salvatore boy in bed?"
"No!"- Elena rolled her eyes –"I am calling to ask for your help in another matter."
"Oh? Do tell!"- Katherine said excited.
"Stefan is hurting…" - Elena let out in a guilt ridden breath - "I broke up with him…I-I-I chose Damon over him and he took it badly…"
"My my Elena Gilbert, maybe we are related after all!" – Katherine piped.
"I am not trying to run for Miss Bitch Mystic Falls Katherine." - Elena snapped annoyed. She hated being compared to Katherine.
"I needed Stefan to understand once and for all that it was over between us… I didn't want him to continue to cling onto hope." - Elena hesitated but pressed on -"I've seen what hoping for you did to Damon…It breaks a man in increments…"
"Elena…" – Katherine's voice was subdued, somewhat sad – "It's ok to love them both…"
"I know…But it's also ok to finally choose one Katherine, and I have. I'll take care of Damon from now on. Will you please look after Stefan? I can't stand thinking of him out there...alone and hurting."
"Sure, sure." – Katherine replied trying to appear not to give a dam.
"Katherine, I am serious! You loved him once…I know you did."
"Ok little miss goody two shoes! No need to get your knickers in a twist! I will go looking for our former boyfriend and take care of him. Satisfied?" – Katherine snapped.
"Yes, thank you." - Elena replied sincerely - "He deserves to be happy and..." – she added as an afterthought -"so do you."
"Now, don't start going all soppy on me Elena." – Katherine sighed annoyed – "I like being bad and I want to stay that way. Don't try to find reddeming qualities in me, I haven't got any."
Elena laughed without humour at how predictable the vampire was.
"Sure, sure." –Elena replied in a mock imitation and then hesitantly –"And Kat…"
"Yes?" – the vampire replied surprised by the term of endearment.
"When you can…, when he is ready..., bring him around to see us… I…Damon will miss him." – Elena whispered.
"Well" - Katherine said in derisive laughter - "I wouldn't expect us home for the holidays or wait for postcards, but I'll see what I can do." – her tone was sarcastic tone but her voice had a hint of tenderness when she next spoke – "I'll call you when I find him… Take care of yourself and Damon girlfriend."
With that the line went dead and Elena resumed her former position wrapping her body around Alaric and waiting for his heartbeat to return. She hadn't wanted to fill Damon's heart with doubts. Her showdown with Stefan was as much for Damon's benefit as it was for her former boyfriend's. She wanted a clean slate to start her unlife over, no doubts in any of the Salvatore brothers' hearts as to whom she had chosen. It didn't mean she didn't love Stefan, it only meant that she loved Damon more. She also wanted to free Stefan from the burden of loving her and of hating his brother because of her. She wanted a new start for him too and, for better of for worse, Katherine had earned his love once upon a time. Elena hoped the two vampires could find their way back to each other or that at least they could exist in companionable friendship whilst Stefan healed. Elena closed her eyes…she was emotionally exhausted and fell asleep in no time.
Outside the room, Damon leaned against the door smiling. It was so like Elena to try to save everyone from hurt and to also play matchmaker that he had to chuckle. Damon had been initially surprised at the overtly dramatic breakup show that Elena and his brother had starred in. However, Damon knew the girl better than she knew herself and he understood her intentions. Elena had wanted to free Stefan from the shackles of unrequited love so his brother would not go through what Damon had with Katherine. Elena had also set out to make Damon free from the constant plaguing doubts that she would at any moment return to his brother's arms and leave Damon's soul a barren desert. Damon laughed quietly…and to think that he and his brother ever thought that she had anything in common with Katherine besides her looks.
Elena was wholly good, Katherine thoroughly bad. Still, he was glad that Elena had called the she devil and ensured that she looked after Stefan. His heart had been aching with guilt and worry for his brother. Also, Damon knew that love is a balance act; Elena's goodness counter balanced his evilness and made him better. Stefan's goodness would do the same to Katherine's wicked ways and she would make him more resilient and stronger. It was as it was always meant to be.
Damon pushed himself away from the door, he was parched for his liquid mistress and oblivion. He went down the hall thinking of all the things he needed to teach Elena, starting by how to tell if a vampire is eavesdropping on you.
Damon's laughter echoed down the empty corridor.
I hope you liked it. One more chapter to go, the epilogue. XOXO
