AN: Holy Cow! Chapter 11?!

I cannot comprehend the amount of support this story has received so far. I thank each and every one of you who review (each chapter, or once) favorite, or follow this story! (or all 3!) I am so stoked with how this chapter turned out! Once again, thank you all! PLEASE KEEP REVIEWING!

And as promised, it's a long one! And It's a heavy one!

ELEVEN:

The smell of cinnamon woke Elena as she opened her eyes. Where was she? Elena sat up quickly, looking around. Oh, right.

She was at Damon's apartment.

"Elena!"

Jeremy's voice faintly echoed from the hall, and before Elena could blink, her door was whisked open.

"Oh, good, you're up," he smiled as he leaned on the door frame. "Damon's making breakfast. Do you want anything?"

Suddenly, Elena's stomach rumbled in reply.

"Yeah," she laughed as she ran a hand through her hair. "I'll be out in a minute or two,"

"Okay," Jeremy nodded and closed the door.

Glancing at the clock on her nightstand, it was apparently 10:30. Elena immediately hopped out of bed and got dressed.

Elena wandered into the kitchen tiredly and spotted the back of Damon at the oven.

"That smells so good. What are you making?"

Damon turned around to face Elena.

"Pancakes and sausage. I hope that's okay," he smiled hopefully.

"No, certainly. I'm just so starving, you could make crap and I'd probably eat it," she joked as Damon nodded and returned to cooking.

Bad joke, Elena.

"So what time are you going out with Caroline?" He asked, causing Elena to gasp.

She had completely forgotten about her plans to go dress shopping with Caroline.

How many times in her life had she and Caroline been dress shopping? It was becoming a pastime.

"Crap. I totally forgot about that. I'll call her and find out." she told him as she hurriedly got her phone out. "I'll be out on the balcony."

Once she step foot on the balcony, Elena slid the glass door shut behind her. She was about to dial Caroline's number, but apparently she beat her to it.

"Hi, Care." Elena said cheerfully, despite her wariness. If Caroline was calling her, then it wasn't usually good news to her.

"Thank god. Elena, I'm on my way over to your house right now. The road to the mall is having construction done to it, so we'll have to take a detour which will be longer. So get ready."

Caroline was on her way to her house?

Crap.

Time to come clean.

"Care, wait! I'm not at home," she said quickly.

"What? Well, where are you?" Caroline scoffed nonchalantly and her tone only made Elena more uncomfortable.

Wouldn't she like to guess.

"Jer and I are staying with Damon,"

Elena held her breath, waiting for Caroline to freak out.

"What?!" She squeaked angrily through the phone. "What the hell are you doing at Damon's?" She hissed.

Elena let out her breath.

"It's a long story, Care. I'll tell you on the way to the mall."

Elena mentally noted to pack a bottle of ibuprofen. She was going to need it now if she were going to deal with the retelling of her past few days and shopping with Caroline.

"Okay, Where does he live? I'm on my way."

Elena frowned. She didn't want to leave just yet. How would she get out of this?

"I'm not going to be ready for at least forty five minutes, Care. Can I meet you there?" Surely, Caroline of all people wouldn't complain at the thought of wandering the mall alone for a while. Plus, it was the truth. Caroline was already out and on her way to Elena's house, while she had just gotten out of bed not ten minutes ago.

Caroline huffed through the phone. "Fine. Hurry up, though. Bye."

Okay, bye.

Elena hung up and wandered back into the room.

"So how'd that go?" Damon asked as he set a plate of pancakes on the table that made Elena's mouth watered at the sight of the puffy golden brown pancakes.

"Fine. I'm meeting her at the mall soon." she sighed as she walked into the kitchen.

"Okay, well, you probably should hurry and eat." He gestured to the food on the table.

"Yeah," she agreed as she made her way to the kitchen table and took a seat.

"Thank you for making this, it looks delicious," she smiled as she drizzled syrup on her pancakes.

"No problem," he said. "So do you need a ride to the mall?"

Elena shook her head as she chewed her food.

"No, I'll take the bus," she said, and Damon frowned.

"Elena, don't be ridiculous. I'll drive you," he said sternly.

"Damon-"

"No. And no arguing. Eat. I'll go get ready." and just like that, Elena was left alone at the table, now poking at her food as if it were her worst enemy.

Damn him and his control issues.

"Thanks for the ride, Damon," Elena said as he pulled over to the curb of the mall.

"Yep. Caroline's dropping you off, right?" he confirmed as Elena stepped out of the car.

"Yeah, she'll drop me off. Bye," she waved as she shut the door behind her.

Damon smiled and waved to her in return before driving off.

Taking a deep breath, Elena walked into the building.

"There you are!"

Not even a second before the headaches begin.

Elena slowly, painfully, turned to see Caroline stomping toward her with a look of relief.

"Caroline," Elena smiled through clenched teeth. If Damon was still outside, she would no doubt be conflicted with running back to his car.

"Ready?" Caroline squealed, and Elena inwardly groaned.

"Yes. Lets go," she sighed.

This was going to be a long day.

It was 2:20 and Elena sat in Damon's bathroom staring at her reflection as she applied make up to her features. Her long lashes were now thicker with blackened mascara, and her thin lips were now puffed with scarlet lipgloss. Her cheeks were a faint color of rose, and her eyelids were a coffee-colored brown. Her long brown locks were in curling rods, and she was in her fluffy white bathrobe.

She and Caroline had spent a majority of the morning at the mall hunting for a dress to wear to the charity function. They were gone for what seemed like forever, and when Elena called to let Damon know that she was on her way home, he had told her that he wasn't there, and where the spare key was. So, for the last forty-five minutes, she was alone in his overwhelmingly spacious apartment. Jeremy had went to visit a friend that recently moved into town, and Elena and Damon had to head out soon. They were set to leave for the charity function around 2:45, so Damon surely would return soon.

In the background, alternative music crooned from her phone as she stood up to go get her dress that was spread out on the couch in the front room. Once Elena retrieved it, she ran back to the bathroom and slid it on.

It looked like something that Cinderella or Belle or any other princess would wear. Not her. She had decided on a beautiful sequined golden dress with splotches of blue and silver that flowed down her body to the ground in a way that a ball gown did. It wasn't so puffy that it looked like a pastry, but it had a little volume in the skirt. The back was exposed, which of course Caroline loved despite Elena's annoyance. She smiled as she slid out of her bathrobe and into the gown. Once she had adjusted it correctly, Elena slowly and carefully released her brown locks from the curling rods and watched as they fell down her front and back, bouncing with volume. She rarely curled her hair, let alone as much as her hair was curled then. Elena took one last look in the mirror at her reflection, and didn't recognize herself. She made a mental note to take a photograph to send to Caroline.

"Elena?" Damon's voice traveled from the front entrance, and Elena looked in that direction.

"I'm in the bathroom, I'll be out in a second," she hollered back as she adjusted her hair, running her hands through the curls to make them more voluptuous. Once she was confident that there was nothing else she could do to them, she took a deep breath and stepped out of the bathroom. And when she did, her breath caught in her throat.

Damon stood in front of her, wearing a white button up shirt, the top two buttons undone. The shirt was tucked into sleek, black dress pants, and he wore an open black dress coat over the shirt. He looked gorgeous.

"Elena, you look..." he breathed as his blue eyes darkened, roaming up and down her body, and for the first time, she wasn't uncomfortable around him.

Stranger things have happened.

"You look absolutely stunning," He grinned widely, and Elena felt heart skip a beat.

How did she not notice his beautiful smile before?

"Thank you," she blushed as she smiled shyly. "You don't look so bad yourself,"

"And thank you," he smirked, and Elena could feel her toes tingle with pleasure.

"So, how long until we're leaving?"

Damon shook his head as if he was distracted and looked at his watch. "We should actually head out now. It's a long drive to Mystic Falls," he said quietly.

Wait, what?

"It's in Mystic Falls?" Elena gasped, her nerves reawakening. Damn, of course it was there! His parents still lived there, and she should've known from the early time that they were leaving.

"Yeah," Damon regarded her warily.

"Oh, god. I-I'm not ready to go back there," she whispered, and it wasn't until a few seconds later that she realized that she had spoken them aloud.

Damn it, Elena, you're thinking out loud.

"It'll be alright, Elena. My parents will be the only people that you know there," Damon said in an attempt to comfort her, and Elena felt no comfort whatsoever.

"No, Damon, I-I can't do this! I-I'm not ready to do this, I-I-"

"Listen, Elena." Damon's hands were now cupping her face, and Elena was forced to look into Damon's insistent blue eyes. "It will be fine. I promise. We won't be there that long, but I assure you that my parents won't think twice about what's become of your life. They're too swallowed up in this charity to give a crap about anything else,"

Elena nodded, reassured. He was right. They were too busy and too important to worry about anything else, let alone her.

"Okay," she whispered.

"Okay," Damon repeated softly, and let go of her face. He held out his right arm. "Ready?"

Taking it, Elena did her best attempt at a smile.

"Ready."

Elena anxiously sat across from Damon in the back of a black limo that he had rented for the night as she watched the mansion come into view.

The Salvatore Mansion was bigger than Elena had remembered it. It was white as marble, and It was bigger than the mayor's house. Ironic. There were brass gates that greeted guests at the head of the property, and Elena gasped as she took in the decorations. There were water, chocolate and ice fountains scattered around the lot. Ruby balloons were in rows leading up to the entrance to the house, and there was a team of valets parking the cars.

"It's a lot bigger than I remember," Elena said softly as she gazed through the window at the entire house.

"My parents have had the place remodeled since then," he told her.

"Oh, wow," Elena's eyes scanned the house more closely. It did look like there was an additional attachment.

"Hello, Mr. Salvatore and ..?" One of the valet opened the door to the car and held his hand out for Elena to step out.

"Elena Gilbert," she smiled as she took his hand, which was covered with a white glove.

"Ms. Gilbert," the valet smiled warmly, causing Elena to blush unexpectedly.

"Thanks, Brady," Damon said to the man as he slid out behind Elena.

"Certainly, Mr. Salvatore. Enjoy the event,"

"Watch your step," Damon gripped Elena's arm tightly, startling her. She looked downward instantly. She was so caught up in the extravagant decorations that she was not aware of where she was walking. The front steps were at her feet.

"Oh, thank you," she giggled as she lifted her dress up, stepping onto the concrete stone.

"Don't want you to get hurt," he smirked, and Elena felt warm with excitement now.

"Why, thank you for being so concerned with my safety, Mr. Salvatore," she grinned back at him flirtatiously as she entered the house.

Flirting?

He was her boyfriend, but it seemed...strange with Damon. After knowing him for so long as a friend, it was at times, if she were being truthful, a little awkward between them. She had never been in a romantic relationship really, and to start with your longtime best friend was always a danger zone.

"Damon!"

Elena snapped her head back at the sound of his father, Giuseppe, who was standing in the middle of the hallway with his hand in the air.

"Father," Damon said uncomfortably as they approached Giuseppe.

"And ... Miss Elena Gilbert, is that you?" Giuseppe asked in disbelief as his gaze fixed on Elena.

"Yes, sir." She nodded politely. "It's nice to see you again,"

"Well, certainly. It's been too long, my dear, too long. Damon here's been running his mouth off about you to my wife, and she can't wait to see you again,"

Elena blinked in surprise. "Yes, it has been too long. And I look forward to seeing her again as well," she smiled.

Damon was talking about her to his family? That was unexpected.

"Well, Father, we must go and be somewhere else," Damon said as he began to lead Elena away and toward the back door, which was wide open.

"Oh- Goodbye, Mr. Salvatore," Elena hollered toward Giuseppe, who looked angry, presumably with the way that Damon had just acted.

"Why did you do that?" She wondered as they stepped back outside.

"Because I don't want my father as our only company for the night," he shrugged nonchalantly and Elena scoffed.

Was he really going to be so blunt?

"What?" he asked when she narrowed her eyes.

"I'm just a little surprised at how you just treated your ill father," she admitted.

"He's in remission, Elena. I've told you this. He's fine. He's just getting on my bad side tonight,"

"Why? Because he spilled the beans on your family conversation topics?"

"No,"

Bingo.

"Okay, it's nothing. I understand," she shrugged sadly. She just wanted Damon to be honest with her about this.

"Elena," he sighed. "I just don't want my family meddling in my personal life," he told her quietly.

"No, I get it. Honestly, Damon. Let's let it go," she smiled. This night was going in a bad direction, and it had just started. Elena looked overhead at the darkening sky. Was it really going to shower?

"Alright," he nodded.

Elena looked onto the crowd of people, who were either socializing or dancing. The music was an upbeat pop track that Elena was familiar with, but just couldn't place.

"Salvatore!"

Elena turned around, and saw two young men emerging from the crowd with wide grins on their faces.

Elena froze.

It was Mason Lockwood and Matt Donovan.

"Oh, god," Elena whimpered, and started to back up. Damon was sure that no one she knew would be there.

"Damn it," he cursed as he ran a hand through his hair. "Elena, I was so sure that no one would be here," he told her, an apologetic look in his eyes.

"Damon, I need to go, now," she began to hyperventilate. Mason and Matt were at the top of her list who she didn't ever want to see from her hometown again.

"Elena, It's fine. I promised you that, and I don't break my promises," he insisted as he wrapped his arm around her waist, preventing her from fleeing.

"Damn it, Damon, let me go-"

"Elena Gilbert?" Mason asked, shocked as he and Matt approached Elena and Damon. "Is that you?"

"Yes, it's me." Elena breathed nervously once Damon had let go of her.

"Wow! It's been a long time, huh?" Mason's green eyes glistened with remembrance. "You look beautiful,"

"Yeah, it has," Elena laughed softly. "Thank you,"

Why was she finding this awkward and uncomfortable?

"Yeah, you do, Elena. Long time," Matt spoke up softly, and Elena turned to see hurt in his eyes.

What was wrong with Matt?

"Thanks, Matt." she smiled awkwardly. The last time she'd seen him, they were on a date. And he didn't even pay attention to her. Not that she actually cared. She'd preferred it that way.

"How are you? What are you doing here?" Mason suddenly asked, regarding Elena curiously.

"I'm fine," she said dismissively. "I'm actually-"

"She's actually my date tonight," Damon interrupted, tightening his grip on Elena.

Damn, he was strong.

"Wait, what?" Matt spoke up for the first time. "You two are on a date?"

"Absolutely," Damon nodded, narrowing his eyes at Matt, who now looked uncomfortable.

"Well, well, well. Some things do surprise you," Matt scoffed.

"Wow, I would have never guessed that you two would ever be on a date," Mason chuckled. "I guess things do change, huh?"

"Oh, yes, they do. Elena's my girlfriend."

"Oh, wow. Well, here's to the happy couple," Mason patted Damon on the back, and Elena saw Matt scowl in the corner of her eye.

Could this get anymore awkward?

Elena prayed not.

"Well, I'd like to take my girlfriend on a walk. Gentlemen," Damon bowed, dragging Elena away from Mason and Matt and toward the denser part of the crowd and over by the food.

"What was that?" Elena asked, dazed. She'd just felt as if she'd ran a mile or two.

"It was me stating the obvious," Damon said as he grabbed a plate and put a burger on it.

"It seemed like..."

"What, Elena?" Damon encouraged snidely.

Elena sighed. "It seemed like you were...angry or something,"

"I was making it clear that you were unavailable." he shrugged, and Elena's mouth fell open in realization.

Did he really think that Mason and Matt were flirting with her? Or even interested in her? He was so ridiculous sometimes.

"Damon, it wasn't like that. Mason and Matt-"

"Were openly flirting with you," he said darkly.

"And what's wrong with that?" she retorted immediately.

Wrong thing to say, Elena!

"What's wrong, is that you're not their girlfriend," he hissed.

Since when was he so damn possessive?

Elena looked up through her eyelashes at Damon, who was regarding her intently.

She automatically crossed her arms over her chest. For some reason, it made her uncomfortable.

"Alright, Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to third annual Salvatore Corporation Charity Function." A voice that Elena recognized as Damon's stepmother's rang across the lot. Third? Who had Damon come with before? Elena suddenly wondered. Why, she didn't know. "First, We'd like to thank you all for coming out tonight to support us. Second, we are going to slow things down on the dance floor for a while, so don't be shy and go have some fun. Dinner will be severed soon. Thank you."

Before Elena could fully absorb what Mrs. Salvatore had announced, she felt a tickle at her ear.

"Dance with me," Damon breathed, and she turned to face him.

"What?" She asked, suddenly overwhelmed by his close presence.

"Dance with me, Elena." he whispered in her ear, sending shivers through her blood.

"Damon-" Elena sighed.

"I'm not talking no for an answer," he smirked as he grabbed her hand and led her to the dance floor as a beautiful violin began, shortly followed by other instruments.

Damon slowed down and turned to face Elena. He placed one hand at her waist, and the other in mid-air for her to take with her own. Elena did, and placed her other hand on his shoulder.

"You look so beautiful tonight," he said softly, staring intently into her eyes.

Elena blushed. "You've already said that," she told him as she smiled.

"I know," he nodded seriously.

Elena felt as if time stood still while Damon swept her across the dance floor. They moved in perfect rhythm, and Elena's heart was in her throat as she stared into his beautiful eyes. This was so real, this moment between them, and she didn't want it to end.

Suddenly, Damon dipped Elena, and her long chocolate hair met the floor, and she giggled. Instantly, Damon pulled Elena back upward, and Elena's laughter ceased as she looked up at him with wide eyes. Damon's eyes landed on her lips, and without hesitation, they both leaned in at the same time, and Elena felt her heart flutter with the union of her and Damon's lips.

It was so soft and tender, so sweet. His lips molded perfectly against hers, and Elena felt Damon wrap his arms around her waist as they had so many times, but this time felt different. She threw her own arms around his neck, and Damon groaned into her mouth, making Elena's stomach tingle with desire.

"Elena,"

As she shifted against his body, Elena felt his stiff length rub against her stomach, making her shiver with uncertainty. Suddenly, she felt a raindrop hit her face.

"Can I cut in?"

Elena immediately broke apart at the voice of the intruder.

That voice, Elena knew.

Her voice was cold. It was dark and demented.

It was one that Elena didn't want to hear ever again.

Simultaneously, Elena and Damon turned to face the brunette, who wore a tight blood-red lace dress and a smirk that Elena wanted to smack off her face.

"Katherine?" Damon's voice cracked, and Elena's heart dropped.

Another raindrop fell on Elena's face, harder.

What the hell was this bitch doing here?

"Well, hello to you, too," The brunette smirked mischievously.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Elena spat unintentionally.

"Oh, Elena? Elena Gilbert? Is that you? I didn't notice you, you're actually pretty right now!"

Elena felt her heart squeeze and her stomach twist in pain.

"Katherine!" Damon snapped.

Elena blinked through her watery eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I ruin your 'magical little moment'?" Katherine sneered.

"Damn it, Katherine, what the hell are you doing here? How did you even know about this event?" Damon growled as Elena felt more raindrops shower them.

"Well, while you were busy playing tongue tag with the ugly duckling over here"- Katherine nodded at Elena, who was now on the verge of crying-"you must've forgotten. My father works with your father, so I'm not oblivious to these functions just because you've forgotten about the last two times we've attended." she laughed menacingly.

Elena felt like her heart was slowly being ripped from her chest.

Damon attended the past events with Katherine.

Elena felt the raindrops streaming down her face before she even knew they were there. She was actually now grateful that it had begun to shower, or her tears would've been more evident. And she hated showing the people that hurt her weakness. It was one lesson that her mother made sure Elena and Jeremy knew.

"Oops," Katherine smirked insensitively as she raised a perfectly trimmed eyebrow at Elena and winked. Elena immediately seized this opportunity to get free from Damon's grip and run away through the sheets of rain. To where, she didn't care.

As long as Damon wasn't there.

"Katherine, what the hell is wrong with you?" Elena heard Damon shout as she weaved through the crowd, her hair and dress now sopping wet. She didn't care. She didn't care about anything anymore.

Didn't she already learn this lesson?

"Nothing. I didn't know that she didn't know about us," Katherine scoffed. "It's not my fault that you keep secrets from your girlfriend,"

"Elena!"

She wouldn't turn around. She wouldn't answer his desperate pleas.

She knew better. She was right all along.

She should've ended things with Damon before this all had the chance to occur.

"Damn it, Elena, stop!"

Elena felt the sharp, wet grip of Damon's hand as he whirled her around to face him through the fog of the storm.

'Let me go, Damon!" She cried as she ripped her arm away from him and stormed off once again through the showers.

It wasn't long until Damon had grabbed her arm once again.

"Elena, no! It's not what it looks like! Katherine was lying!" he said desperately.

"No, Damon, you lied! You told me that you hadn't been involved with her since prom!" Elena choked through her sobs, barely audible through the thick rain.

"I haven't! Look, Elena-" Damon pleaded, but Elena shook her head.

"Forget it, Damon. I don't have to do anything you ask me. I'm done. I'm calling a cab to come get me from this shitty party that I was stupid enough to let you talk me into attending with you, 'Damon Salvatore', the 'womanizer of the century', who probably has no feelings for me, or anyone for fuck's sake! Hell, you're not even capable of real feelings, least of all for me!"

"Don't you dare tell me what I'm capable of feeling for you, Elena Gilbert," Damon snarled as he pulled her tightly against his stiff body.

"Damon, d-" Elena gasped.

His lips crashed onto hers, insistent, demanding and cathartic. It was explosive, and Elena could hear the fireworks go off through her ears. He wrapped his arms around her small waist, and she instantly followed with her arms around his neck. It was quiet outside, and Elena noticed everyone had abandoned into shelter. And she and Damon were standing out in plain sight of the storm.

A rumble of thunder echoed in her mind.

And they still weren't moving.

"Elena," he groaned as he backed her into a nearby tree, a gasp escaping from her lips from the quick pain on her backside, as well as the sharp feel of his hard length that rubbed against her stomach. Damon's hands slid down her waist, past her hips and to the top of her legs. Instantly, he lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he continued to assault her mouth. Elena felt faint, hot and thick with desire.

"D-Dam-"

"Shh," he whispered as he ran with her through the fog and thick sheets of rain to the shed that Elena had remembered was nearby their property.

"We need to take shelter," he whispered as he unlocked the shed doors without removing his lips from hers and ran in with her and set her down on the stack of hay near the door.

"Oh, god!" Elena panted, feeling Damon's toned body with her hands. His mouth instantly moved to her neck as he nibbled and sucked on her flesh.

"I want you," he whispered against her neck.

Elena felt herself become dizzy.

"N-no," Elena whimpered as she felt Damon's hand move to the back of her dress and to the zipper. She shook her head in protest. She wasn't ready for that.

Damon immediately froze.

"Did I hurt you?" He asked as he caressed the skin on her bare back gently.

"No," she shook her head. How could she tell him? Would he be upset?

"I can't do this," she breathed as Damon slowly took himself off of her.

"Okay," Damon choked, and the hurt that was laced in his voice shot right to Elena's heart, a sledgehammer pounding into it.

"No! No, no, Damon. It's not like that!" she shook her head. Damon was getting the wrong idea. He was thinking that she didn't want to do that with him.

Boy, was he wrong.

Elena took a deep breath.

"Last time I-" she froze, her eyes closing at the memories that were resurfacing. "The last time I-I h-had sex, It was a nightmare, Damon. I'm still not fully recovered from that yet." she said softly, fearfully. She didn't want him to reject her because she wasn't ready to do that yet.

Would she ever be ready to do that again?

"Wait, do you think that I'm mad that you won't do that?" Damon's eyes were wider than ever, with pain shining in them.

Elena felt guilty for nodding.

"Jesus, Elena." He ran both of his hands through his hair. "I'm not that guy, Elena!" He said angrily. "Don't you know that I'm not that guy?"

Elena nodded frantically. "Yes, Damon, I do. I just don't want you to think that I don't want to do that with you. Because I do! I really do, but Damon, you know how I was introduced to sex, and it was dreadful! I want to, Damon, but I just can't, not yet," Elena's chest was heaving.

"Elena, it's okay," Damon soothed as he pulled her in for a hug, and Elena immediately burst into tears.
"Shit, Elena." Damon swore and pulled back. "Please don't cry, Elena. It's okay. I understand. Just please don't cry," he whispered softly as he ran a hand through her hair. "It's okay. We'll get through this stuff with this serial killer person, and we'll get through us, together. I promise, Elena. As long as you want me, I'm here,"

Elena looked up, doubtful, into Damon's wide eyes. He was honestly not mad with her. He cared. Damon cared about her, she knew. She knew that he wanted her to be safe.

And that was only with Damon.

"Okay," she sniffled, returning his hug as her breathing calmed.

"Okay," he repeated softly to her, and smiled.

"It's getting late. Do you just want to go?" Damon asked her.

"If you want to," she shrugged, but secretly hoped that he wanted to leave.

"I'm not here for anything anymore. Let's go," Damon nodded as he slowly stood up with Elena, who was still tired from all of the emotions that she'd confronted tonight.

"Elena, we're home," Damon said softly as he caressed her cheek with his fingers.

"Hmm?" Elena's eyes slowly opened, and she stretched.
"Ow!" Damon winced as he covered his eye.

"Whoops! Did I accidentally hit you?" Elena giggled sleepily.

"Yes, you did," he snapped, and Elena sat right up, worried that he was upset with her.

"What's wrong?" Elena asked breathlessly as she nervously examined his face.

"What do you mean?" Damon asked, confused.

"You-you seemed upset," she bit her lip.

Did she imagine it?

"Did I?" Damon asked, genuinely curious. "I didn't notice. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you," he kissed her forehead.

"I like that," she grinned shyly.

"What?" he chuckled.

"When you do that," she blushed.

"Do what? Kiss your forehead?" Damon smiled.

Elena nodded, embarrassed.

"Noted," Damon pecked her forehead once again. "Come on,"

"Well, that was some night," Damon sighed as he shrugged off his jacket.

"Yeah," Elena smiled, and suddenly the images of the events of tonight flashed before her.

Yeah, it had been some night.

A night of hell.

Except for that last part at the function.

"Where's Jeremy?" Damon asked as he threw his coat onto a nearby coatrack.

"He's still at his friend's house, I think," Elena said, suddenly wandering toward Jeremy's room. When she reached it, the door was wide open, revealing a vacant bed.

"Yeah, he's still out." Elena confirmed as she headed back to Damon, who was standing near the door entrance, frozen.

"What's wrong?" Elena asked.

"This is for you," Damon said softly, the way that made her worry.

"What are you-?"

Damon held up the parcel that Meredith delivered last night.

"Oh, right," Elena stuttered, snatching the parcel from Damon's hands. "I forgot about Meredith's visit last night,"

Elena's hand clamped to her mouth.

Shit, shit, shit.

TMI, Elena, TMI!

"Meredith brought that over last night?"

Too nervous to speak, Elena nodded hesitantly.

"And you didn't think to show it to me?"

Elena bit her lip as she found her voice again.

"I didn't open it yet,"

"Well open it right now." Damon hissed.

"Damon-"

"Elena, open the damn package. Now,"

Why did he have to be scary when he was angry?

Damn him.

Without responding, Elena walked over to the kitchen and grabbed a knife, slicing the parcel open in one swift move.

Inside of it was only tissue paper.

Big whoop.

Elena froze.

It felt heavier than 'just paper'.

She slowly reached her hand into the parcel to retrieve the object.

"What is it?" he asked, once again quietly.

It was a beer bottle with something like red wine inside of it.

And a note.

Elena,
Once again, you failed to do as I asked. You squealed. So here's my gift to you. In this bottle is the blood of one of your girlfriends. If you don't tell me where my son is, you don't want to know the things that I will do to your little friend.

And you.

And our son.

You have one week.

"Oh, God," Elena gasped, feeling her heart jumping out of her throat.

Elena fell down to the ground, shaking to her core. The note floated to the ground next to her. Damon caught it before it hit the ground.

It all made sense now.

The fire after she told Damon about the note and her past.

The person who knew about that night.

There was only one person other than her that knew about it.

It was him.

Her attacker.

All along.

And she has no idea who that person is.

No, no, no. No. No.

He'd never find Ryan. He'd never find-

Who's blood was in the bottle?!

Oh. God. Oh. God.

"What the-?" Damon hissed, taking the bottle.

"I-It's b-blood!" she cried.

"What? Who's is it?" Damon asked urgently.

"I-I don't k-know!" she wailed. "But D-Damon it's h-him! It's h-him! My att-tacker!"

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PS: Feel free to check out my other DE stories!

PPS: Follow me on Twitter (MdntEpiphanies) for updates and Spotify (Midnight Epiphanies) for playlists!

~Songs that were either mentioned in or inspired this chapter (full list on Spotify)~

THEME: Arms by Christina Perri

Young and Beautiful by Midnite String Quartet (originally by Lana Del Rey)

- Elena and Damon dance at the charity ball.