Huge thanks to my beta PorkChopSmall for her help! :) Please don't forget to check out our story "The Twelve Days of Christmas". It is on her page. Also, make sure to "like" my facebook page LiveBreatheVampires' fanfiction.

Have a merry Christmas and New Year, dear readers, and thank you for your incredible support. xx

When Damon woke up the next morning, Elena was still holding his hand tightly as if it was her only lifeline. He smiled a little, seeing her all curled up underneath the sheets, her tiny body barely visible. She was asleep with a smile on her face for once, and her long, tidy hair was covering most of her fading marks.

He leant down and sighed, gently stroking her face as she slept. She snuggled, letting out adorable sounds as she tightened her grip on his arm in her sleep. He looked at her and instantly decided that he was going to spend the day with her. He couldn't leave her alone anymore, not after last night. She'd been so sad and scared and he just couldn't bear the thought of leaving her again.

She turned around and her little doe eyes opened. She smiled at him and he smiled back.

"Good morning."

"Good morning," She blushed, "Did you stay here all night?"

"Isn't that what you wanted me to do?"

"Yes," She nodded, however her face turned hotter.

He smirked and offered her his hand as he prepared breakfast for both of them. He saw her looking out of the window, closing her eyes in response to the sun's rays on her skin. He knew what it must have been like for her, being so close to nature and yet do far.

"You enjoy that, don't you?" Damon said, coming up behind her.

"I do," Elena nodded honestly, "It's been so long."

"Trust me, I understand what you're saying."

Elena raised her eyebrows. "Why?"

"The work I do…it's all at night," He answered uncomfortably. "And even when I do work in the mornings, I don't get to appreciate the sun on my skin."

Elena nodded, accepting his answer as she took another slice of cake. She'd already finished one piece, but she was just so hungry.

"You seem to have quite the appetite today."

"Yeah. I do," Elena smiled.

He sighed, thinking of the time when she was starving in the basement. Although she had gained the weight back that she had lost, he knew it was something she would never be able to forget. She seemed to notice what he was thinking because she cleared her throat and spoke.

"I never thanked you for taking the risk to come feed me that day." She looked down again.

"Don't mention it," He told her.

"Why did you do it?" She pressed on.

"Because starving you wouldn't have got us anywhere," Damon lied.

"Is that the only reason?"

He sighed, locking his eyes with hers. "No. That's not the only reason, but it's the only reason I can give you right now."

She nodded but smiled. Elena knew that he wasn't a bad guy and it was the people he was involved with that were making him this way. Nonetheless, she was thankful for his risk and what he had done for her in a time of need.

"You look beautiful smiling."

His comment was so direct and blunt that Elena stared at him for a second, thinking that she must've imagined it. But then, he continued. "Would you smile more often if I let you out in the back terrace for a few minutes?"

Elena's eyes sparkled, like a child on Christmas morning.

"I take that as a yes," He said, smiling. "Just for a few minutes."

She nodded as he opened the back door and she sat down on a deckchair on the patio, finally breathing in the fresh air. Damon came and sat close to her, cleaning back in the chair. He was watching her closely. The way that her eyes closed and the wind blew through her hair. She sighed out loud before lying back, taking in the sun's heat.

"So, Elena," He told her, "Tell me about yourself."

"What do you want to know?" She asked him.

"I don't know," He said. "Anything."

"Well, I'm a huge fan of nature," She said, "I like hiking. I also love reading, writing and painting. Did I mention that I'm a television junkie as well?"

"No, you didn't," He laughed, "But I kinda figured that out since you're always watching television when I come see you. You know you are free to use the library, right?"

"Really?" Elena's eyes widened.

"Of course you are. There are a lot of classics in there. If you are a fan of Gothic Literature, you'll like them."

"It's my favourite genre."

"I'm glad." Damon said, "Because you'll enjoy going in there. What about tv series?"

"I watch so many," She beamed.

"Is there a favourite?"

"It's obviously Game of Thrones," She smiled.

"Aren't you a little too young to be watching that?" He teased her.

"I'm seventeen!" She fake-frowned.

"Fine. You can watch it but you'll have to skip the naughty parts."

She made a face. "How old are you exactly?"

"I'm twenty-one,"

"See? You're not even that older. Just four years."

"Do you not know the meaning of four years?"

She bit her lip, shaking her head no.

"Try putting your head under the water. You'll know the meaning of four years, then."

She laughed at that, seeing that he had a point.

"It's really nice out here," Elena said after a few minutes, "This seating area…I could imagine hosting a barbecue here."

"You're a party animal?"

"No," Elena said, shaking her head. "I was thinking hosting a barbecue for some family and maybe close friends. I was never keen on parties."

"I see…"

However, their conversation was interrupted when Damon heard a car pulling over. It was very strange to hear a car in that area, and Damon immediately grew suspicious.

"I'm sorry, Elena," Damon said, "But I'll have to take you to the basement." His voice was firm; however his touch was gentle.

He didn't shove her inside or push her and he didn't tie her up or gag her, instead he locked her in one of the hidden rooms in the basement. She looked up at him with fear filled eyes before the door closed in her face. He hated this and the fact she had to hide whenever someone came, but it was for her own protection.

"I'm coming!" Damon yelled, opening the door, only to find Stefan and the team there.

"What the fuck, man?" Stefan hissed, "Where have you been?"

"After we split up I searched the entire area," Damon lied, "I was near so I decided to spend the night here. Why? What's the big deal?"

"You could've called!" Stefan said angrily.

"My phone died." Damon explained, "Wait a second. Did something happen?"

"Klaus is going insane, Damon. We didn't find the girl either. And if he ever finds her…I don't think she'll even live after that. He's crazy. He can't accept the idea that he has lost."

"We checked John's house but there was nobody there," Alaric continued.

"And I checked the entire area. There is no way in hell she walked, though. She must've called someone to pick her up, otherwise we would've found her," Damon added.

"But how?" Stefan demanded, "She had no phone, no money, nothing."

"Maybe she stopped a car?" Damon offered.

"Do you honestly think someone would give a woman in her state a lift?" Stefan nodded his head. "I'd be afraid to risk it."

"I don't know. I'm running out of ideas."

"Join the group." Alaric sighed, looking at the mess on the table. "Did you have company last night?"

"No," Damon said, "I was hungry when I woke up."

He nodded his head as the others joined in.

"We have some people working for us in the phone services, cabs…I'll ask them to keep an eye for any suspicious calls made and I'll send one of my drivers working in the cab service in this area so that if he sees her, he'll bring her straight back," Stefan said, his voice full of authority. "I'm going to kill that fucking whore when we find her."

"But then we would've been through all of this trouble for nothing!" Ben exclaimed, "I have a better idea. We can share her."

"You're right," Stefan smirked, making Damon's blood boil.

At that moment, he wanted to snap their necks. They were criminals, but they weren't supposed to be rapists! He looked at Alaric and to his surprise, he realized that he was already looking at him with a strange expression on his face, as if he too didn't approve any of this.

"We'll be going, Damon," Stefan said, "I'll take care of the cabs and phone services as well as our men from home. There isn't much we can do right now, however we'll be meeting again tonight."

"Great," Damon replied, "So I'll be having the day off. I need to work with Smith's case anyway. I have some accounts to hack…people's lives to destroy."

The men let out a laugh that echoed all around the household, said their goodbyes and walked away. However, after a while, Alaric returned.

"Damon," Alaric said slowly, "You do know that I am your best friend, right?"

"Of course I do," Damon nodded, surprised.

"You can tell me anything," He pressed on again, "I'll have your back."

"I know that, Ric. And that works both ways."

He nodded but looked at him as if he was unsure, but then he finally smiled and walked away with the rest of the team, leaving a confused Damon behind. Why was Alaric acting this way? He didn't know something, did he?

Damon went back to the basement when he was sure they left. He found Elena there, in the dark, her eyes red with tears. She was still curled up on the cold ground, her hair falling around her and hiding most of her features.

"Who w-was i-it?" She whimpered, "Was it the police?"

He didn't say anything, instead he just helped her out.

"It'll always be like this," Elena sobbed, "You just hear a car and you'll lock me up again. I'm surprised you didn't tie me up or gag me like you often do."

At that, Damon snapped. "Yes, Elena, it's going to be like this!" He grabbed her face firmly, "I can't let you go. I already told you. And no, it wasn't the police. Those were my friends, my people, the people I'm lying to keep you here. I'm risking my job, Elena, my life."

"Why don't you take me back then?" Elena growled, "If I'm such a nuisance? Or kill me, then you wouldn't have to worry about me or any of this anymore!"

"You'd rather go back to them?" He roared, "You'd rather be hurt and touched then stay here, hidden? That's what Stefan and Ben want to do to you if you ever return. That and more."

At that, Elena let out a hysterical sob and at that moment, Damon's anger suddenly faded away. He pulled her into his arms, ignoring her protests as she struggled. His hand came to her hair, petting her gently as he tried to calm her down. Once again, him lashing out had upset her even more.

"I'm sorry," He apologized. "I shouldn't have said that."

"No, it's okay," She finally said. "It's the truth. I know they'll hurt me. But you won't, Damon, right?" She asked him in a childlike voice, "You won't do that to me."

"Of course not," He pressed a kiss on top of her hair. "I might be a criminal, Elena, but I'll never do that to you."

"Good," Elena told him sadly, "Because I don't know how much more I can take."

"It's okay…you'll never have to go through any of that again, I promise. I'll find away for you to be free again but for now this is how it has to be. All you have to do is trust me. You trust me, don't you?"

"Yes," She said in a childlike voice, "Yes, I trust you."

What do you think about Alaric in this story? This was basically an introduction topic to Alaric. He's going to be an important character.

Please review and enjoy the festive season.