Author's Note: Hey guys, I honestly was going to try and post this chapter last night, but I just got so busy. I ended up getting home crazy late, and then work today… anyways, here's the next chapter! You won't have to wait as long for the next chapter! ^_^

I DO NOT OWN THE VAMPIRE DIARIES OR THE CHARACTERS.

Chapter Thirteen:

Great, just fucking fantastic... I was calm at first. But, now it has officially sunk in. Stefan was pissed, not annoyed but pissed. And Elena is going to be even worse. On top of everything going on in my mucked up brain, I didn't need to add an Elena freak out.

She'll never understand that it's not about her. She won't take "no" for an answer and she'll twist everything so it will inevitably end up about her. How do I know this? Because that's what always happens. I don't need to be psychic or have a magical ability to figure that out. And, honestly I'm not sure what she'll do.

"Hey, don't worry about Elena." Damon said, drawing me away from my thoughts. I looked at him, surprised. I forgot that he was here. I get in the habit of losing myself in my thoughts. "There's nothing that you can do that will affect anything that she does." He told me, truthfully. I gave him a slight, hesitant nod. That's far easier said than done.

"I don't know." I told him. It's true; I honestly don't. I sighed.

"Let's go, being here isn't going to do anything… unless you want to witness another one of Stefan's self-righteous spaz attacks." Damon reasoned. I nodded.

"Where to?" I asked him, tiredly. I'm exhausted. I doubt I got more than two hours of sleep, tops.

Damon just smirked. "I'll take you home." He said, thinking about something. I nodded, numbly as sobriety and reality washed over me. The usual sinking feeling I keep in my gut returned. I realized that I would go home to the house that I always go home to, with a father who doesn't care.

I don't blame him, I honestly don't. We have never been close. I mean, we've never had the doting: father-daughter bond that some people have. That was never us. My mother came first, when she was alive. It was Mom, then his job, then anything else, then me. When she passed away, nothing changed. But, I had Grams… but she's not here now.

I shook my head. That feeling of utter disbelief never seems to fade. I can't believe that she's actually gone. Out of everyone that's ever been in my life, apart from my mother, I can't picture anyone more deserving of life. I have this empty void that never seems to fill.

"Hey, look at me." Damon commanded, softly. I blinked and looked over at him. "I never said I was leaving you. I'll stay… but only if you want me to." He explained. I gazed at him, confused.

"Stay?" I questioned. He doesn't mean… No, no…. He couldn't mean… Could he?

"Stay with you, tonight. I don't want you to be alone. And, I'll be able to hear your dad, so he won't bust you for me being there." He said, thoughtfully. I love his conniving scheming. He looks so deliciously devious when he gets that mischievous smirk on his face.

"I'd have to invite you in." I said. Whoa, where did that come from? Damon nodded.

"Unless you want me to sleep on your porch… and that might end up being a little awkward." He reasoned. I nodded. He's right.

"Let's go." I told him. I sighed. Well, things are turning out better than I anticipated… but I say that now… I have no idea what's in store.

Author's Note: Reviews would be amazingly awesome. :^)

Xo Xo,
Anneryn