"All those words came undone. And now I'm not the only one. Facing the ghosts that decide if the fire inside still burns. All I have, all I need. He's the air I would kill to breathe. Holds my love in his hands. Still I'm searching for something. Out of breath I am left hoping someday I'll breathe again." ~Breathe Again, Sara Bareilles

Ch. 11

Elena's insides churned as Damon accelerated once again. She knew he was excited to go to New York but how fast did he need to get there? They'd been the car for two hours and already things had gotten pretty quiet between them. Elena leaned forward to turn the music back on to steady her nerves. If he was going to drive like a bat of hell it certainly gave her the right to pick the music. Landing on a familiar oldies channel Elena kept it there and leaned back in her seat. She glanced over at her road trip companion only to see a smirk cross across his face.

"Don't Stop Believing?" he said as Journey belted out the familiar tune.

"What?" Elea asked feigning innocence.

"This has got to be the most over played song of the eighties."

"True, but you've got to admit it is rather catchy." She countered smiling at him. It was the first time in fifteen miles that she'd gotten a reaction out of him and it was thrilling. She had worried that they wouldn't have enough in common to talk about. The past few hundred minutes had told her as much. But now she had a reason. It was a little girlie for her to hope, but she had wished deep down that this could be their open opportunity to get to know one another, and spark some more memories. She knew she'd already gotten some today, but she couldn't help being greedy. She wanted her Damon back, whole and safe before their bundle of joy arrived.

"I"ll give you that. What other music do you listen to? I mean aside from this?"

"Well, honestly I listen to a lot of different genres. I'm pretty eclectic when it comes to music. As long as I love the lyrics and the beats not to bad I'll probably listen to it." She said with a smile.

"That seems like me too." He added as he reached down and swept up her hand in his. When their fingers intertwined Elena let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in. She found she was so happy to have his hand in hers it was oddly comforting.

"Ok, so you like all types of music. Ever been to a real rock concert?" she asked, her breath catching as his thumb traced over hers. Tingles shot up and down her arms and she tried to focus on his response.

"Well, I have been known to party with the best. For example I do happen to have a soft spot for Taylor Swift." He said, his cocky smirk back.

Elena laughed, not expecting his answer. She loved this, she felt free with him.

"Ok lets pretend that answer is real." She said as she placed his hand back on the wheel.

"What?" he asked wondering, why was she letting his hand go? She kissed his cheek and leaned her head on his shoulder, reassuring him she just wanted to be closer to him. Feeling his body align with hers gave her a comfort she didn't know existed until him. It was as if all her cells sighed in gratification to the feeling of him beside her. It was very soothing.

"Mmm," He purred as she placed her hand on his thigh. "If you keep doing that I'm going to have to pull this car over."

Elena looked up at him abruptly. "What? Why?"

"Because its illegal to have sex in a moving vehicle." He said simply. She was suddenly aware of her affect on him as she looked down to his raging hard on beneath his tight jeans.

"Hmm….this does present a problem. But I still don't know why or how this could have happened. I mean all we were doing was talking about Taylor Swift….Oh." she said as she blushed, "I guess you weren't kidding about having a soft spot for her."

"What? No!" he protested as she pulled away giggling. She loved playing with him. He was so easy to tease, and she admitted she kind of liked the fact that she got under his skin.

"Elena…you know why." He said glancing at her with his piercing blue eyes. His look seemed to stop all the giddiness in her body and replace it with something else. It was a hunger, a passion she had just barely begun to recognize. Nodding she sat back and said, "I know Damon, but there has to be more between us than just sex. I mean there is isn't there?"

"What are you talking about?" he asked, his foot letting off the gas ever so slightly so that they were going the speed limit for once.

"I'm talking about the fact that almost every time I get close to knowing you we end up having sex."

"I don't think that's fair." He said, his grip tightening on the wheel. "I mean I don't recall you ever stopping me before."

"That's because I love you Damon, and I love being with you in that way. Its just…" she said her voice tapering off as she looked down at her lap.

"Its just that what?"

"I guess I'm still hoping that if I do, in some cosmic way it will bring you back to me."

Damon got very quiet after that comment, and almost instantly pulled off the side of the road. Cars passed by them, as Elena read a sign up ahead that said New York was 100 miles away.

"Damon? What's wrong? Why are we stopping?"

"Because I need you to know something." He said, tension filling the car with every breath he took. "I can't be what you want me to be. I know I was a different person before this,"

"Yes." She agreed, feeling hope lining her heart.

"But I'm not that person right now. You need to accept that he might never come back to you."

He said cutting into her heart with every word he said. She knew deep down that this was true, and although she'd thought it before this moment, him declaring it made it ten times worse.

"I know."

"Then why do you keep holding on to the past? Why can't we just enjoy our time together?"

"Because I don't know what you expect of me. You're so obscure. I mean today you just woke up and decided to go to New York."

"Yeah, but you're coming with me."

"Only because I thought you understood that I was willing to do everything I could to show you how much I love you. I don't think you realize how much of a sacrifice it is for me to be here right now."

"Then enlighten me Elena. What have you sacrificed for me?"

"I lost a child Damon. Our child. And I know that might not mean much to you right now, but it should. I am holding on for dear life to this one inside of me. Can you honestly tell me you don't understand the fact that this is a delicate pregnancy?"

"I…" he started to say but she shushed him, putting her hand up.

"I also left my brother in the care of my absent biological father, who up until a few months ago I didn't think existed." She said, emotions rising as her heart pumped rapidly in her chest.

"Then why even risk it? Why even come?"

"Because I love you Damon. Because I chose you and I stand by my choice. If this is important to you, then it's important to me, but I need you to be honest with me."

"Ok." He said, his hands unclenching from the wheel as he released a long breath.

"I need to know why we have to go to New York."
"Look, I think it will make a lot more sense to you once we're there."

"Why? Why the secrecy? Why can't you just tell me?"

"Because it's complicated. I'm not even really sure if my old place is still there."

"And if its not?" she asked, an eyebrow lifting in accusation.

"Then we'll find somewhere else to stay."

"Damon, you can't possibly be serious."

"I am."

"You aren't this person anymore. You've grown so much since this happened."

"How so Elena? I mean aside from the fact that I've been shacking up with you, what is my role in Mystic Falls other than the local drunk?"

"Local drunk? Damon, be serious. I would never think of you like that."

"Why? Because its true?"

"No, because I have no idea why you would label yourself like that. You're a community leader. You help Alaric run the grill part time, and you've mentored my brother Jeremy a lot this year. On top of that you still make time for your passions like photography. I've never known you to waste a single day of your life." She explained. She noticed his jaw drop considerably as she described his status in Mystic Falls. He was in utter disbelief and she thought for just a second that she might have gotten through to him.

"Damon?" she asked, and reached out to touch his shoulder. She practically felt him flinch under her hands.

"This was a mistake." He said simply. It was the first time she'd seen him in utter defeat.

"What do you mean?"

"This trip, and you being with me. What is this?"

"I…"

"Because I can honestly say Elena, that you couldn't possibly know me at all. Not who I am now. Trust me, I'm no good for you. I wish I knew that this entire time that I've been falling for you has been real."

"Damon, it is real. I know what you're about to do please don't do this to me." She said, her heart racing, and her chest constricting in fear. He was about to break her heart on the road to nowhere.

"I don't want to do this Elena. I'm not the good guy remember? I'm the selfish one. I take what I wan I do what I want. I lie to my brother and apparently fall in love with his girl. I don't do the right thing! But I have to do the right thing by you."

"Why?"

"What?" he asked, dropping his hands and turning to face her in his stalled Camero. Their eyes met, and she could see a sheen of tears filling his eyes. He didn't think he deserved this, and she knew it, and she was about to call him on it.

"Why do you have to do right by me? What makes you think any of this is what I wanted? I want to know you Damon. I want to love you, even after this is all over."

"Elena…"

"Just let me in, just once. If we get to New York and you don't want me I'll walk away. But if you walk away its for you because I know what I want. I want you. I love you Damon Salvatore, and I'm never leaving you again."

And with that she leaned across the seat and touched her lips to his. It was a soft caress; a promise to him that she was making to never leave, and she hoped deep down inside that it would be enough.

Over two hours later Damon found himself pulling in front of a large apartment building on the upper east side of Manhattan. The roads were quiet tonight, and for the first time he thought of New York as peaceful. Sure there was always the hum of traffic on fifth avenue and the occasional bystander, but it was home. At least it had been to him for sometime. After NYU he'd come here, even his mother had appreciated his new place when he acquired it. She said it made him look like the entrepreneur he was, and he loved the sound of that.

Having the city and world at his feet held so many possibilities, and he was anxious to get started again. Parallel parking, he stopped the car and said in a sigh, "Home sweet home."

Elena's face looked impressed. He was aware from their road trip that she had never been to New York before, but he did know she was willing to give it a try. He was relieved and nervous at the same time to have her with him. After almost breaking her heart on the roadside, he had decided to give things another chance. Things were getting a little too serious anyways, and they needed to lighten up. Getting out of the car, Damon unlocked the trunk and pulled out his bag.

"I'll come back for the rest," he assured her as she gave him a look of confusion for not getting her things. He wasn't about to unload if he couldn't even get his front door open. Walking up to the main entrance he was happy to see that his regular doorman was still inside. Greeting the old man he was assured that his place was still upstairs. Smiling he grabbed Elena by the waist and led her to the elevator doors. He almost laughed looking at her gawking eyes. He knew she must have been amazed at his ability to keep up a place like this. He'd only had the apartment for a year before he apparently went to Mystic Falls and he was excited to see it again. Getting inside the elevator he pressed the button for level 4 and breathed. The electric current filling his veins was from non other than the brunette bombshell standing beside him. He suddenly realized how long he'd wanted her all day and was determined to seize the moment.

"Elena," he said, his voice filling the intimate space with his husky primal tone.

Turning to her he noticed she must have felt it too, because she was licking her lips in anticipation. Pushing her against the elevator wall he claimed her lips with his own. A sense of longing and urgency filled the air as their bodies collided against the cool wood of the elevator. He suddenly wanted to be inside of her, to feel her warm wet walls tight around his length. Images of her astride his hips as he thrusted ran rampant through his mind. He was about to act on his fantasy when the doors opened with a ding interrupting their heated embrace.

"Damn," Damon said both out of irritation and appreciation, his eyes filling with the desire they both craved.

"We better get going," she breathed as she walked out of the elevator and with him following closely behind her. Damn he loved the way she walked away, leaving him always wanting more.

"Which one is yours?" she asked, her curiosity peaked.

Motioning towards the one by the end of the hallway she followed him. The door number said 405, and Damon lifted his hand to retrieve a hid-a-key from the top of the door. Grinning he put the key into the lock and turned it.

"Ms. Gilbert, welcome to New York." He said while he opening the door.

Elena gasped.

Damon assumed it was out of awe until he noticed the spectacle before them. Because right there on his two-thousand dollar couch was his ex-friend and handler Klaus Michaelson, and he was not alone. Apparently he'd been entertaining company in his apartment while he'd been gone, and looked to be in the middle of ravishing a beautiful blonde at the moment.

"Elena don't look." Damon said as he pushed her behind him and yelled, "Klaus, what the hell?"

Stopping his ministrations the eldest Michelson brother grinned and pushed the blonde off his lap. She fell to the floor with a thump and he sighed as he stood up and pulled on his jeans. They had been around his ankles when Damon had entered.

"Damon fucking Salvatore, back from the dead." He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"The one and only. Now get the hell out of my house."

************AUTHORS NOTE********************

There you have it folks, the first encounter of Klaus. I hope you enjoyed the vampire diaries references. ;)

No infringement intended from TVD or its writers.

Thank you all for reading! Please review!