First, just have to say a huge thank you to everyone who reviews. And in particular to Suzanne London, you're reviews never fail to make me smile So thank you thank you thank you all

And another thing (sorry), to Lal...that review made me laugh...thank you. You guys are such funny people :) 'My cousin had a rottweiler, it was the biggest wimp i've ever met, he got into a fight with a yorkie. The yorkie won(he also started it).'

So yeah, I love me reviewers/readers/all

Oh who liked hungover Elena?

After the sort-of huge revelation in his car (on his part at least), Damon drove us back to the Saltzman-Sommers house, parking outside and coming inside with me, just as I'd asked him to. I wasn't going to say it was a weight lifted off my shoulders that he knew, that I'd finally told someone because it wasn't at all…I guess there wasn't weight there in the first place because it was already gone. But it was nice, in a way, for someone to know here, someone other than my three friends in the UK…for him to know. Whether he saw it that way or not. He sure was acting a little different, more concerned looks and such but what could you expect after hearing something like that?

We went up to my room after making some tea, and I on the bed in a comfortable silence. He was stood over by the dressing table, littered with memorabilia and looking at the photos I'd stuck around the sides of the mirror. There were photos of my friends, my parents, tickets to things…all the little things that I had to remember.

"Who's that?" he questioned after a while and I stood up, walking over and looking at the photo he motioned to. It was taken at a gig a few months before everything had happened and I came here. It was me with a guy called Dom (not that one, pure coincidence), his arms wrapped around my waist behind and all looking into the camera, Fran and her boyfriend (at the time) Chris next to us.

I smiled a little, "That's Dom, my ex. Then Fran and her ex Chris." He nodded slowly, frowning a little and I tried to hide my smile,

"Who's the band?" he questioned, looking a little closer at the stage you could just see over the crowd in the background.

"Not a band, Calvin Harris," I said, setting my iPod in the dock on the table and playing Feel So Close, "You know him?"

He listened for a moment, "Recognise it. You listen to good music though." I shrugged a little, remembering when he stole my iPod for a weekend (bitch). He returned to looking at the photos…there were many.

"Are they really that interesting?" I teased, taking a sip of my tea and lying back down on the bed

That familiar smirk appeared on his face and I braced myself, watching as he picked out one partially hidden photo and ambled over, dropping down to lie on the bed, my stomach becoming his pillow, no problem... "You were fatter there."

I gaped at him, aiming a sharp poke to his shoulder, "You're horrible." He just laughed, knowing I wasn't actually offended and I snatched the photo back, laughing quietly. It was a picture of Fran, our friend Holly and I in year 8 or 9 where we'd decided it would be fun to dress up as chavs…pregnant ones. Cue pillows up tops, tight belts under our stuffed bras, Croydon facelift/side ponytail and tracksuits, huge gold hoop earrings and too much makeup. "I'll have you know that was my favourite look."

"I'd hope not. What are you meant to be?"

"Pregnant chavs…obviously."

He burst out laughing, shaking his head, "Chav?"

I smiled, looking down at him from where I was propped up on the pillows, "Never call someone a chav…in London at least. It won't go down well. But that is our impression. It was great fun."

"Can I keep this? It's hilarious."

Another poke, "If you must, just as long as you know it's a joke."

He shot me a smile and I rolled my eyes, "You know I was joking…you're not fat."

With a sigh I nodded, "So you've said. I don't really care to be honest."

"If anything you're too skinny."

Cue another eye roll, "I'm not." He sat up suddenly, turning and tugging at the hem of my top, "Damon!" I yelped, jerking a little as he pulled it up a little, his hand splaying across my stomach and my breath hitched in my throat as he ran it across the smooth flesh. I admit I'd lost weight, but it was only the layer of fat over the muscle that was still there.

"See, I can feel your ribs too much."

I scowled at him, pulling my shirt back down as his hand moved away, "Well I'm sorry it's so disgusting to you, I don't eat as much when I'm tired."

He sighed, smiling a little, "Don't be stupid. You're far from disgusting."

My attempts to stay annoyed were shattered as he grabbed my waist and pulled me back to lie half on top of him, his arms around my waist preventing me from moving and I laughed quietly, finding the new position far too comfortable. How did we always end up in this position? "You always dig yourself into holes Damon Salvatore. You know it is possible to give a compliment before insulting someone first."

He raised an eyebrow like this was a new idea, "Really? Give me an example."

Laughing, I propped myself up on his chest, looking down at him and shaking my head, "You're just searching for compliments." He grinned in agreement and I rolled my eyes, "Fine…" I thought about it for a minute and he waited in happy anticipation, "You do have amazing eyes."

It wasn't a lie, I did mean it and that was the first thing I'd noticed when I met him. He smiled, tilting his head a touch, "I know."

Sigh, "And you can accept a compliment without sounding like an arrogant asshole."

That only served to amuse him more, "I thought the whole point of this was to not insult. And you can hardly talk, you can't accept a compliment."

"I didn't insult you! I just stated a fact, because you can't deny you are ridiculously arrogant. And I can accept a compliment."

He scoffed, tightening his arms slightly as he pulled me even further onto him, "You're gorgeous." My eyes shot wide in surprise as he stared right at me, not letting me look away, "In fact you're the most beautiful girl I've ever met."

Mouth hanging a little open at the intensity of his words and eyes, I could feel my heart beating in my chest, a blush rising in my cheeks but somehow I couldn't break his gaze, "D-"

"See! You cannot accept a compliment." His pleased expression slowly faded as he took in my speechlessness. You cannot just say that! Did he even mean it? Ugh why couldn't I function like a normal person rather than just stare at him like this? He sighed, smiling a little, "You are."

Oh holy shit. My body reacted with no consent from my mind, pushing forwards the short distance until suddenly my lips pressed against his…just for a second, then pulling away. Why did I do that? I should not have done that…His momentarily shocked face shifted into a slow smile before, very suddenly, he pulled me back down to him and I couldn't help but smile into the kiss. Cliché coming, there were fireworks everywhere.

It wasn't until I felt his warm hand pressed against the bare skin of my back under my shirt that I realised what was going on, breaking away a little, out of breath and eyes wide…wowza, "Shit…"I breathed, smiling as he laughed quietly.

"Finally more like." I think I was still in shock as he kissed me again, rolling us over as he did so. Hovering over me, he paused, pulling away a little and looking down with a curious look on his face, that spark ever-present in his eyes,"You alright?"

Feeling a smile pulling at the corner of my mouth, I nodded, "Yeah, surprised is all."

He raised an eyebrow, "Whys that?"

I shrugged one shoulder, my hands absent-mindedly running up his chest to his neck and finally through his silky raven hair, "Just...didn't see this coming."

That seemed to surprise him, "Really? I did. Everyone else did."

Smiling at his obvious truth, because everyone had been making bets on how long it would take us 'behind our backs'…yeah right, unsubtle people. "I don't know…I told myself not to."

He frowned slightly at that, "Why?"

Shrugging once more, I shook my head, "Just that I'm not here forever…I didn't think I'd like someone so much…it wouldn't be fair."

"What do you mean?" He said, amusement in his voice as he pressed little kisses along my jaw and down my neck, completely distracting me as I think was intended.

Trying not to laugh at his antics, I closed my eyes, "I'm here till I'm 18…then I can go home. And home happens to be pretty long way away."

That made him stop, looking back up at me, the glee fading from his face, "And when are you 18?"

Sigh, "I still have a few months."

"How long?" He pushed, his tone serious and determined now.

"Until June…seven months." He nodded once, thinking hard at that as he settled back, effectively still straddling me as I pushed myself up on my elbows. I was here for Christmas, which was as 25 days from tomorrow, the first of December. Then Easter and all that…it took me more or less up to the end of the school year and I may as well stay to do the exams, seeing as I've been doing all the work. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't wait to go home…but being here, meeting all these people…something had changed. Because in a weird way this was turning into home now and, as much as I didn't want that, I did like being here. "That's quite a long time…"

He nodded slowly, "I've never been with one person more than a week."

Oh…that's great to know, "Okay." I tried not to laugh at the dazed way he'd said it.

Closing his eyes for a moment and smiling a little, "No, I mean…I want to…with you."

After a moment of quiet, I couldn't help the slow smile spreading across my face at his obvious hesitation, avoiding looking at my as he spoke. I laughed softly and shook my head, "Damon you sound like a little boy asking the girl he likes out on your first date."

Oh if looks could kill, "You'll pay for that."

"Wha-!" I let out a squeal as his fingers raced across my stomach…damn being so ticklish, "No! Damon no please-Ahh mercy!"

I could hardly stop laughing, a little out of breath as he finally stopped, grinning as he leant down to press a kiss to my cheek, "You have the most adorable laugh. Apologise."

His fingers moved slower across my stomach, gentle but that only added sparks to the tickling sensation; at least he hadn't figured out how sensitive my sides were yet…I could deal with my stomach, but my sides? No way, "No."

I swear he just growled but before I could react to that he was back at it, peppering kisses along my neck as he did so and my lungs were suffering…definitely, and-…oh fuck he discovered my sides, "Take it back Lena!"

Panting a little, I took the moment to catch my breath, "The last time a guy did that to me he couldn't walk for a few hours."

He burst out laughing at that, after a moment of shock and gathered my hands in his, "Why's that? Do I want to know?"

Did he really not know? "Damon look where my knee is? One wrong move and I swear to god I will hinder your ability to procreate."

I wasn't joking…why was he laughing? "Well if you don't take it back I'll hinder your ability to breathe."

I paused, thinking about that for a minute, "That sounds a lot more sinister. Damon are you talking about killing me?"

He rolled his eyes, pressing his lips to mine and I melted a little, I swear I did, "Don't be stupid. Take it back."

"You really do sound like a psycho when you say that." I squirmed a little feeling his hands slide slowly down my sides, "Oh for fucks sake okay! I give in, you're not a little boy, you're a crazy psychopathic murderer. Is that better?"

He frowned, looking just a bit perplexed beneath the humour, "No!"

"Well what do you want me to say? Would you rather be a boy or a murderer?"

"Preferably neither…"

I was about to smile, but then I heard something and froze, looking toward the speakers…of all songs:

'You and me baby we ain't nothing but mammals

so let's do it like they do on the discovery channel'

He heard it at the same time, just as the chorus sounded, looking back at me with an eyebrow raised, "Now this is a song I know."

"Well…Winston always has had great timing." I commented, taking me only a minute to notice his confused expression and I sighed like it was obvious, "Winston…my iPod? You have to name your iPod." Well wasn't that a mocking look, "Hey, stop being mean. I name my iPod. Like my computers called Quentin, my car's called Tinker."

I wasn't the only one, Fran did it too…it's perfectly normal but apparently not because he looked like he was about to burst out laughing…which he did, pressing a kiss to my forehead, "You're so odd."

"I'm not! I bet you've named your car."

He shook his head, "Nope, it's just the Camaro. And anyway, you don't have a car. You have a bike."

"Yes I do…in London. It's a little black MGB. It's like my baby and I bet you it's going to be ruined by the time I get home."

Why did he look surprised? "I didn't see you as an old-car kind of girl. But why would it be ruined?"

Shrugging, I pushed myself back up onto my elbows to look at him, "Because stupidly I said Jamie could have it while I was away. Sorted out all the insurance and all…but the thing is he's a complete man-slut so I don't even want to think about what he's been doing in it." I gagged a little at the idea and he too grimaced at the thought. "Like I don't want to go in the backseat of your car because I'm sure you're not much better."

Pleasant shock spread over his features and he leaned closer, his mouth hovering just a little above mine, and I held my breath waiting, my eyes flicking between his, almost nervous seeing that familiar sparkle… "What makes you think you're safe in the front seat?"

"Ew, I'm never getting in your car again."

"Gear stick-"

"Oh my god shut up!" He laughed quietly, pressing more kisses along my jaw but I couldn't shift that image, "I'm never going to get that image out of my head."

He grinned as his hands smoothed their way across my stomach, gradually pulling my top higher and higher…sly boy, "I said nothing. Dirty mind."

"That's you. Were you joking?"

Laughing, he gave me that look like I was being stupid…I was getting way too used to that look, "Yes Lena, that's the wrong type of kinky."

Phew, "Well that's a relief…I think."


Things changed after Damon and I, to quote Caroline Forbes, 'finally got it on'. Not in a bad way…but at the same time not in a small way either. We spent even more time together than before…and that was already quite a lot. But what I meant was that we did things without the others around; like I'd go over to the Boarding House or he'd come to Jenna's. We'd discovered that the huge tree outside my window was a brilliant means of escape… Moving on, everyone was pretty happy about it…apart from Bonnie who was still determined that he was bad news and Stefan who was his little brother so I guess that was allowed. Jenna, Alaric and Jeremy; they were all perfectly fine with it, even Ric who, as his teacher, didn't think of Damon as his favourite per se. But of course things weren't all perfect, because I have managed to expertly avoid my other cousin.

After the not so formal announcement that Damon and I were 'going out', the previous hostility to her imposter of a cousin increased tenfold. To the point that I could hardly be in a room with her.

Why? Because she wanted Damon and that fact was abundantly obvious. But then she was going out with Mason who was Damon's best friend so…confused? I was. Katherine was a player, as the whole school knew. She might be going out with Mason, but it was no secret that she had, at any one time, at least three other guys on the side. I'd call her a slut but then she was my cousin so I kept my thoughts to myself.

We went to a party and she literally threw herself at him while I was standing less than a metre away…I would have said something but I didn't need to, Damon handled it (like a pro). Before I hadn't realised just how much he disliked her…how much everyone did for that matter. When he kissed her at that party it really had just been for some sort of revenge or a way to release his annoyance and anger. She was always ready and willing apparently. So was it bad that I found this whole situation quite funny?

On a lighter note, Christmas was next week, in fact it was exactly a week from today. A lighter note for everyone else maybe. My thoughts?

First Christmas without my parents

First Christmas as an orphan

First Christmas without my best friends

First Christmas on the wrong side of the Atlantic

First Christmas when I wouldn't wake up in the morning, find a stocking at the end of my bed that my dad had attempted to place there without me knowing because he was determined for me to still be that little girl who believed in Santa

First Christmas where we would sit around the tree in the front room and open our presents; my dad would insist on writing down what we got from everyone and then in the days to come my mum would keep reminding me to send those thank-you cards

First Christmas where I wouldn't go into the kitchen in the day and find my mum cooking the most amazing meal, getting told of when I stole rations because I was hungry

First Christmas where we wouldn't curl up on the sofa in the evening with a huge bar of Galaxy chocolate on the table and watch Love Actually or Home Alone or The Nightmare before Christmas.

The list went on.

How could I do it? How could I get through that? When they would all be happy and together as a complete family and I was just me…missing my own.

Bit of a depressing ending to the chapter but hey! What was that? Yeah…I think that was me finally giving in and getting our favourite people ever together.

I know the Christmas chap is a bit late, considering it was two days ago but technically it's the first day of Christmas so...should be done by the 6th

Reviews!