Hey people,

Sorry this took so long, but it's a slightly longer chapter than usual so please forgive me.

Oh. My. God! The last few episodes have been amazing!!!!!!

I can't believe the season is ending next week, what am I going to do???

Oh well.

Thanks for all of the reviews, I love you all.

Guess what! I finally learned how to spell conversation! I know you don't care about that but it is one of those words that I can never spell.

My apologizes for the lack of Delena moment in this chapter and the lack of Damon in this chapter. But there IS alot of talking about Damon and Elena's feelings for eachother, and Damon and Stefan's relationship.

Enough of my wafffle.

Enjoy...

Elena POV

"Hey stranger," Jenna called as I walked in to the house, "long time no see."

I put on a fake smile and walked up to her, "Hi."

"So, what's going on?" she asked with that glint in her eye, like she was a gossiping school girl again.

"What do you mean?" my confusion wasn't completely acted.

"You, spending the night at the boarding house. Are you and Stefan back together?"

I smiled a little, "No Aunt Jenna, Stefan and I are just friends... and still a little awkward. I spent most of the night with Damon and Anna."

"Damon?" Jenna asked raising her eyebrows.

I forced a laugh, "Damon are just friends too. The four of us were talking and watching movies, Stefan went to bed about 11 and I don't know when the rest of us fell asleep but it was late and I'm really tired so I'm gonna crash."

"Okay, I'll wake you up for dinner," she told me.

I nodded my thanks and walked up the stairs. I collapsed onto my bed. For once I was going to do what Damon told me to, not because I thought he was right but because after all that's happened – and without Anna around to distract me form it – all I wanted to do was sleep. I closed my eyes only to see a crystal blue pair. The only eyes that can pierce right through me. The eye I knew all too well. But there was something different. His eyes were usually full of sarcasm and mockery but not now, they showed vulnerability and... heart break. They were the eyes he had looked at me with back in the motel room and when I left him in the foyer. The knowledge that I had put that look in his eye made a tear escape and roll down my cheek.

Damon POV

I reluctantly told Anna what happened in the motel. From when Elena woke up to when she left. I found that once I'd started it was easy to talk to Anna; she didn't interrupt and she didn't judge. Once I'd told her everything Elena had said I stopped and she thought for a few minutes, considering what I'd said.

"You should talk to Stefan," she advised.

I coughed a laugh, "What?" I asked incredulously.

"He's what stands in the way of you and Elena being together. It's not his fault but he can fix it. Elena doesn't want to hurt Stefan and she doesn't want to get between you two, I get it she thinks your relationship with Stefan is more important than what she wants. All it will take to solve this is Stefan reassuring her that it's okay with him.

"To make things right with Elena you have to make it right with Stefan," Anna concluded.

I admit, it made sense but seriously, how was that conversation going to go?

Hi Stefan, can you go tell Elena that you're over her and that being with me won't affect our relationship as brothers?

Sure Damon, no problem.

I don't think so somehow. And what if Stefan's not over Elena? We go back to hating each other and I'm still not with Elena.

"Anna, I appreciate the advice but I'm not going to have a heart to heart with my little brother, especially seeing as I highly doubt it will be as straight forward as you make it sound," I told her before turning towards the window. "I've got a blood bank to rob. Don't touch my stuff," I ordered grabbing a black holdall from the window seat.

Just as I was about to jump out of the window Anna spoke, "If you really cared about her you'd put your pride aside and give it a shot ... Fore Elena," I paused for a second and then jumped. I ran 50 miles, knowing that I had been sloppy only to go to the next town over last week, all the way there I was trying to ignore the little voice in the back of my head, telling me Anna was right.

Elena POV

I didn't know what time it was and I didn't care. I was lying on my bed with my eyes closed, feeling the sun coming through my window and trying very hard not to think. Just as I succeeded I hear a woosh of air, he just had to ruin it I thought.

I groaned, " Damon, go away."

"Oh God! Damon?!!? Please, stake me now," I heard Anna's voice exclaim, sounding rather offended.

"Sorry," I mumbled. "Damon's the only person who normally comes through the window." There was a pause when Anna finally realised I wouldn't say anything else she did.

"So, I had an interesting conversation with Damon earliar," she stated, causing my eyes to shoot open and to the window, where Anna's voice was coming from. I was blinded by the bright, red, setting sun.

"Ah!" I gasped and raised my hand to shield my eyes.

Anna laughed, "It's vampires that burn in the sun Elena, I think your safe."

"What time is it?" I asked, no way had I been lying there long enough for the sun to be setting.

"8:30, don't change the subject, you're as bad as Damon," she sighed, shaking her head.

"Well sorry for not realising I've been lying here for over three hours," I grumbled, still avoiding Anna's preferred topic of conversation. What had Damon told her?

"Elena, stop trying to put it off, we're going to talk about this whether you want to or not," she told me firmly.

"Yes mom," I replied sarcastically. I sighed, "What did he tell you?"

"Funny, that's the same question he asked about you. That two things happened, you said you wanted to keep one of them between the two of you so all I know is that he kissed you and you said you couldn't be with him."

I was surprised that Damon had chosen to discuss the event related to his feelings, rather thatn my accident. Part of me was glad that he had respected my wishes, but part of me wished he hadn't, that way I wouldn't have to have this conversation.

"Did he tell you why?" I inquired.

"Yes."

"Then what is there to talk about?"

"Your side of the story," she shot back, instantly.

I sighed, realising that I couldn't get out of this, "I fell asleep in the car. When I woke up we were in a motel room. It was just our normal teasing and arguing at first. But then... I don't know what happened but we kissed," I stopped there, hoping it would be enough.

"You don't have to give me the horny details but you're not stopping there. Your feelings about this?" she demanded of me.

I sighed, "I liked it bu-"

I was cut off, "Elena, Jeremy, dinner's ready," Jenna called, sounding half way parental.

"Go ring the doorbell," I ordered Anna. "You'll be invited to dinner."

She nodded and disappeared. I took my shoes off and changed into some sweatpants and a tank top, I was supposed to be asleep after all. I then heard someone come up stairs and a quiet, male voice at Jeremy's door. The chair creaked as my brother got up and then the door bell rang. There was a knock on my door.

"Elena?" I heard the voice, which I could now identify as Alaric's, call softly. I stayed still until I heard the door open and footsteps come to my bedside, Elena? Wake up."

I stirred and rolled towards him, "Alaric...? What are you doing here?" I asked groggily.

"Jenna invited me to dinner. She asked me to wake you up," he explained.

"Oh," was my only response as I sat up. Alaric went to the door, checked the hall was empty and closed it before coming to sit on the edge of my bed.

"So Jenna tells me that you may not have been focused in class today because you had a late night with the Salvatores," Alaric began. I looked down, "I remember that Stefan and Bonnie were both distracted but I don't remember seeing you in my class." He paused while I tried to think of what to say. "I didn't tell Jenna but do you want to tell me what's going on?"

"I don't want to lie to you," I responded, not really answering.

"Then don't."

I looked up at him, trying to read his eyes while having an internal debate. Eventually the trusting side of me defeated my cautious side. "I know you know," I stated. Alaric looked confused, "about Damon and Stefan."

"I've been wondering if you knew since I spoke to Stefan about it."

"It would have been hard not to considering we were dating."

He nodded, "I take it this cousin of theirs is also a vampire."

"Yeah, Anna isn't this cousin but she knew them when they were human. Her mom was in the tomb mentioned in Jonathan Gilbert's journal. After we got into the tomb Anna helped her mother adapt but they had a disagreement, so Anna is staying in town while her mom goes travelling, to do some stuff," I explained to him.

Once again he answered with a nod and a question, "who else knows?"

"About Vampires? The counsel, me and Bonnie. About Damon, Stefan and Anna? Me and Bonnie," I asmitted.

"Okay, so what happened today?"

"Well it's more of what happened yesterday," I told him truthfully. "I met with Bonnie to tell her about Anna being back in town. She didn't like that I was okay with her being here or that I trust Anna and Damon-"

"Not Stefan too?" Alaric cut my off.

"Bonnie is generally okay with Stefan, but when Anna was last in town, it was when we opened the tomb. Stuff happened, stuff that caused Bonnie to hate Damon and Anna. So anyway, Bonnie didn't like it, we got in a huge fight and I was really upset. Me and Damon went for a drive to take my mind off it. We lost track of time and ended up out of town pretty late. We didn't get back until today," I explained.

"You were out all night with Damon?!?" came Alaric's surprising reaction, "Are you alright?" he asked. The concern in his eyes both touched and confused me.

"I'm fine," I assured him ... mostly truthful.

"Look Elena, I think Stefan's a good guy, he's still a vampire so I don't trust him completely but on the whole I wouldn't put a stake in him," He said sincerely. "Damon, on the other hand, I don't trust. Not at all."

I sighed, "Most people who know what he is don't. And they have good reasons not to," I admitted, "but I've gotten to know Damon very well since he came to town and I know he would never hurt me. I don't know what it is with me and Damon, we just get each other. We have some kind of understanding. I know all of the terrible things he's done and I'm not saying that I condone them but Stefan has lied to me, several times and Damon never has, not once, even before I knew. That, and the fact that he has saved my life, more than once, makes me trust him Alaric," I finished.

Alaric exhaled, loudly, "Just be careful Elena, of all of them," he requested.

"I will," I promised.

We were quiet for a moment. "Don't think you can start using me as a cover story Elena. I don't like lying to Jenna," he warned me.

"I won't," I smiled, " I don't like lying to her either. I try to stay and close to the truth as possible and I don't make a habit of going out of town," I assured him.

"Good. Now we've got that cleared up, we should go down stairs. They'll be wondering what's taking so long."

I nodded in agreement, climbed out of bed and threw a zip up top on over my tank top before following Alaric down stairs.

As we walked into the dining room Jenna smiled, "Hey, what took so long?" she asked predictably.

"Just talking," I shrugged. "Hi Anna," I greeted as I wasn't supposed to know she was here.

"Hi Elena, Mr. Saltzman," she replied with a bright smile.

"Hello Anna and call me Ric or Alaric," he requested with a small, forced smile which both me and Anna saw though. We shared a quick look as I took my seat next to Alaric and opposite Jeremy.

We made general small talk over dinner, about school, Jenna's work, the weather. Normal family stuff which was now strange but pleasant to me. After dinner the five of us took part in a video game tournament. Jenna was knocked out straight away – she never was any good at games. After that Jeremy was very unimpressed with the fact that me, Anna and Alaric wasted all of his lives within five minutes. I guess with Anna being a vampire and both me and Alaric have been vampire hunting, we all at least halved his reflex times.

"This is not happening!" Jeremy exclaimed.

"Don't be a sore loser Jer," I told him as both me and Alaric went after Anna, figuring she was a bigger threat than each other.

"But I don't get it! I got this game last week, none of you have played it before and I have spent all of my time perfecting my technique!" my brother went on, bewildered.

"So that's why your homework's late," Alaric smirked, Jeremy mumble something about it not being smart to say that.

"That's kind of sad Jeremy," Anna noted.

"Yeah well," Jeremy replied, now trying to work out who would win the game, "so was you stalking me and your obsession with vampires, when we first met."

Anna's head snapped up at my brother's comment and Alaric and |I took our chance to work together and shoot Anna down, taking her last life.

"What? That's not fair! He distracted me!" Anna whined as Alaric and I high fived.

"Act your age Anna," I told her, not referring to a 14/15 year old.

"Elena," Alaric started, "I hope you know we're now at war."

"Bring it on," I countered and dodged his bullets.

"And you both have one life left with the same score," Jeremy piped up, getting excited over the close game.

I rolled my eyes. It wasn't long before Alaric killed me while I was reloding.

" 'Nother game?" Jer offered.

"Nope, Elena and I have stuff to do," Anna announced.

"We do?" I asked.

"Yep, but I do love this game. Elena, get Damon to buy me and Xbox 360," Anna requested.

"He's your cousin," I replied, "You whine it out of him."

"But your the one who has him wrapped around your her little finger," she shot back.

"You over estimate me," I told her feeling Alaric's look intensify on me, "until the day before you moved in I'd barely seen him in two months."

"That just emphasises my point, after just a few days of hanging out you can get his credit card out of him!" I didn't answer, knowing that Anna wouldn't let me with the argument. She was nearly as bad as Damon. "Anyway, come on," she said, pulling me to my feet.

"And I though you came here to see me," Jeremy pouted.

"Hey, I haven't had another girl around in a very long time," I looked down, knowing she meant Katherine, "now I have Elena and it's girl talk time," Anna announced, dragging me towards the stairs.

"Can I listen in?" Jeremy asked hopefully.

Anna and I laughed, "Challenge Ric to a rematch," I told him, "Maybe he'll give you some pointers," we laughed again.

When we got to my bedroom Anna sat cross legged at the end of my bed, "So where were we?" Anna asked, and there I was thinking I'd gotten out of the conversation.

I sighed and closed my door, proceeding to flop against my pillows, "Is nothing in my life private?" I asked and Anna smirked. "If you keep smirking like that no one will have any trouble believing you're related to Damon."

"One, do not say I'm like Damon, I'm smarter and nowhere near as big headed," she answered me and I chuckled. "Two that would be a good think! Our survival depends on people believing. And three don't change the subject!"

"Okay! I liked kissing Damon. Happy now?"

"No. The fact that you liked kissing him doesn't tell me much," Anna explained," I liked kissing Ben, he was a good kisser but I didn't like him very much."

"So what do you want me to say, Anna? You asked how I felt about the kiss, I just told you," I argued.

"Fine, I'll rephrase the question: How do you feel about Damon?" the vampire inquired.

I looked down, admiring the hem of my blanket and tensing slightly. Anna noticed this and leaned forward. I sighed, sat up and closed my eyes, "That's a harder question Anna," I opened my eyes and looked straight into hers. "I don't know." She cocked her head to the side – something I've noticed all vampires seem to do – and waited for me to continue. "When I'm with Damon... I'm happy but half the time I'm angry too. He drives me insane and annoys the hell out of me, yet I love being in his company. No matter no matter what we're doing; arguing, cooking, driving or just talking I'm happy and enjoying myself. He makes me cranky and makes me smile at the same time. When I'm with him... I'm both relaxed and excited. And angry and infuriated and amazingly happy," I finished in confusion.

A knowing smile spread across Anna's face, "That's called love, Elena," she revealed. "So what's the problem?"

"Did Damon not tell you that part?" I asked.

"You're seriously putting all those feelings aside so he can have a good relationship with Stefan?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. I can see that they're important to each other. I even saw it back when they said they hated each other. Their relationship is more important than my feelings," I told her sincerely.

"Wow," she answered quietly, "you truly are the opposite of Katherine ... But Elena, there is such a thing as being too selfless." I was quiet, not knowing how to answer. "Just think about it," she walked to the door and then turned back to me, "I was serious by the way." I looked up at her, confused, "You have to get Damon to buy me an Xbox," She smiled, lightening my mood. I returned the smile and she went to say goodbye to Jeremy.

I was left wondering if Anna was right. Was I being too self less? More importantly, was I in love with Damon?

Stefan POV

After feeding I decided to go and see Elena, I really wanted to put our awkwardness to a side and me friends. When I got to her driveway I heard voices coming from her bedroom:

"You asked how I felt about the kiss, I just told you," Elena said, rather argumentatively. What kiss? I thought.

"Fine, I'll rephrase the question," came Anna's voice, "How do you feel about Damon?"

There was a long pause before Elena answered, "That's a harder question Anna. I don't know. When I'm with Damon... I'm happy but half the time I'm angry too. He drives me insane and annoys the hell out of me, yet I love being in his company. No matter no matter what we're doing; arguing, cooking, driving or just talking, I'm happy and enjoying myself. He makes me cranky and makes me smile at the same time. When I'm with him... I'm both relaxed and excited. And angry and infuriated and amazingly happy," Elena admitted all in one breath, sounding confused.

Oh, my God I thought, She loves him.

Anna's voice echoed my thoughts, "That's called love, Elena. So what's the problem?"

"Did Damon not tell you that part?" Elena shot back.

"You're seriously putting all those feelings aside so he can have a good relationship with Stefan?" as if I wasn't shocked enough at the fact Damon and Elena have kissed and she is in love with him. I'm the reason she isn't with him?!?

"Yes. I can see that they're important to each other. I even saw it back when they said they hated each other. Their relationship is more important than my feelings,"

"That's Elena, always putting everyone else first," I mumbled, shaking my head at her.

I heard Anna say more but it was too quiet for me to hear until the end, "I was serious by the way. You have to get Damon to buy me an Xbox," I assumed Anna was lightening the mood and referring to something said earlier.

I waited for a few minutes, then Anna came out of the door and saw me, "It's rude to eaves drop," she told me walking over, "and a complete invasion of privacy." I smiled a little. She sighed, "How, much did you hear?"

"Enough, I gathered that Elena and Damon kissed at some point yesterday, they've talked about it and she's told Damon that she doesn't want to get in the way of his relationship with me. Damon has told you about it and you're trying to play cupid," I told her.

"Pretty much," we started walking in the direction of our home.

"I also got that Elena is in love with Damon. Does he feel the same?" I asked.

"From what I can see, he does but he hasn't admitted it," she replied.

"Of course he hasn't, it's Damon and emotion," I sighed. "How did you get him to talk to you about the kiss? Or was he bragging?"

"No, I annoyed it out of him," Anna admitted, proudly.

I laughed, "Well he has said I'm insufferably annoying for the last century and a half and I rarely get anything out of him. You must put me to shame," I informed her with a smile.

"Is that a compliment or an insult?" she smiled

"I don't know," I shrugged, "Take it how you want." We were quiet for a few minutes, "So I'm what's standing in the way of Damon and Elena being together?"

"Yeah. I told Damon he should talk to you about it. All it would take is you to give Elena some reassurance and they would be together... happy."

"You can't know that they will be happy Anna."

She stopped and stood in front of me, forcing me to look at her. "Do you have a problem with them being together Stefan?" Anna demanded.

I sighed, "If it's what they both want... no. Elena is my friend and Damon is my brother, I want them both to be happy. But I don't want to see either of them hurt," I admitted truthfully.

"Don't you think that it will hurt them both, having to be around each other, wanting to be together but feeling like they can't? Stefan, that won't end well for anyone and if you keep standing in the way of them you'll lose your brother again. That is exactly what Elena doesn't want and neither does Damon. He just got you back Stefan, but if you're in the way he'll always be angry. He spent nearly a century and a half being angry at you for getting in the way of him and Katherine, he said he hated you for it but it was just anger. This time the anger will be stronger, and it might grow into hate," I looked down at my shoes, knowing she was right.

"Stefan..." she started, so softly humans wouldn't be able to hear, "I remember when you used to idolise Damon, anything he did you wanted to do because he was your big brother and you were Damon's world. The most important thing in his life and he would have protected you at any cost. Katherine ruined that. Elena brought you back together, without any of you realising it. Now you have the chance to be that close again, the only person who can ruin it is you."

I looked up after a few seconds. Anna gave me a reassuring nod and a small smile before disappearing into the night. Leaving me standing there, knowing she was right and wondering how she could read people so well.

Well I hope that wasn't too disappointing for you.

Bad news I'm afraid. My sister has got me on laptop ban. I'm supposedly doing homework at the moment :-P

So I wont be able to update to quickly :(

I will however be able to read you reviews on my phone. So review!!!

Love Thalia x