A/N: Thanks for reading and as always thank you to those leaving your reviews. Damon and Elena what now?

(Chapter title used from the song by Roxette - Listen to your heart)

Chapter 20 - Listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye.

Damon stood on the path, he was freezing, it was snowing heavily around him and he'd just attacked Liam from the bar in the early hours of the morning. He glanced down at his red and swollen fists: that asshole had copped his dues.

Elena stood motionless: he could see she was torn. Who could blame her? Yet she was still there considering her options. It would be so easy for her to say no, because no matter what: he hurt her with his stupid idiotic actions.

All he wanted to do was ensure she was alright after what Liam tried doing to her. His heart was still racing not from the exertion but the fear of what may have happened to Elena. The thought of another man touching her made him rage. That bastard better keep his mouth shut if he knew what was good for him. Still, Damon couldn't help but think she would never of been in that situation to begin with if he wasn't such a fool. Of all the stupidest things he'd ever done, pretending he slept with Andie to make Elena hate him was right up there.

He stared at her. Her cheeks stained with black mascara, drops of snowflakes covering her shoulders. Damon was wrong. Elena was better off with him then without, because he'd protect her with his life. The sound of police sirens blared through the quiet streets and the flashing lights of an ambulance whizzed past them. Damon said, "Elena? It's kinda cold out here and the snow is getting heavier."

Elena spun around confused as to what to do. She stared down the empty street in the direction that would take her home and then at the motel. She slowly met his gaze, her face hard and determined. He knew what her answer was going to be before she even said it.

"Damon. I want to thank you for tonight. For saving me from Liam. You have always been there when I needed you." She dropped her eyes, her hands fidgeting inside her coat.

He waited in silence. She was about to tell him she was not interested in making things right. Elena was going to say goodbye for good this time and man that twisted his insides to pieces.

Closing the distance between them, she said, "But I want to go home Damon. I can't do this with you anymore, not here. Not ever."

Just like that something inside him snapped. How the fuck could he let Elena walk away without telling her the truth? He told her he'd respect her choice and never bother her again: yeah to hell with that idea. He was lying to himself and to her. Damon muttered, "I'm not going to apologise for this." His arms hoisted her body up over his shoulder and he made a beeline straight for the motel. Elena could curse him out as much as she liked, he however needed to set her straight.

Protesting, she shrieked, "Put me down right now Damon."

Ignoring her, he burst into the small confines of the motel reception. He went to the desk, demanding, "I want a room for the night. Hurry it up."

Elena pounded on his back. "What are you doing? I told you to put me down."

Damon smirked at the motel man. "My wife is being dramatic. We got hitched today."

He smiled, handing him a key. "Newlyweds huh? I won't keep you long. That will be $70.00."

Damon tossed some notes on the counter. "Thanks. You have a good night." He dashed out before she caused a scene.

Elena screeched, "I hate you. Let me go."

Damon told her to shush. "Do you know how to be quiet? The neighbors can hear you." He found room 721 and flung the door open. Stepping inside he locked it behind him and closed the curtains. Finally he released his grip on Elena with her feet back on level ground.

One look at her face and he knew he was in for a hard time. "How dare you. You took my choice away Damon."

He went to the bar fridge pulling out a mini bottle of something. Twisting the top off, he guzzled the liquid down. "Be angry all you want." She was still standing near the door like she was going to make a run for it any second. Good thing he double locked it.

Elena glared at him. "I don't care what you have to say. We are so done Damon Salvatore."

He finished the wine, tossing the empty bottle onto the floor. He'd figured that's what her response would be. Fuck he had some work to do. "OK I get it, you hate me. But can we just talk about what happened tonight?" He hopped off from the bed stopping in front of her. "I want to know you are OK. The truth Elena. Forget for a minute about all this other crap." God he ached to take her in his arms and comfort her the way he should. But this was all Damon could do for now.

Her eyes met his and he saw it, tears glistening across her cheeks. "I don't know what Liam was going to do-if you never turned up.. He's the one who was watching me all this time. It makes me sick to think about it. The guy has a wife who probably has no idea what a freak he is."

His blood raged. This jerk tried attacking her and he'd only just managed to find her. "I'm sorry Elena. I should of been there with you."

Elena sidestepped around him to rummage through the mini bar. "I need a drink. I get it Damon, this blocks out the pain." She opened a bottle of champagne, sipping it's contents. Taking a seat on the bed, she asked, "Do you think they found him? He was in bad shape."

Damon shrugged. "I'd say so. If the guy has any brains he'd be keeping his mouth shut about what occurred tonight."

She nodded. "So what were you doing out late? Cruising for more conquests?" Her brown eyes stared daggers at him.

He flinched. He deserved that one. Cruising for conquests? Hardly. He was searching for her. Damon had an inkling Elena would be heading out with her friends and the blondie cheering her on pumping her full of booze. "No Elena. I haven't for a long time."

Of course Elena refuted those words. "Whatever. So how long are you going to keep me here?"

Damon lounged back in the vinyl chair, like he had all the time in the world. Now that Elena had settled down, he wasn't about to rush it. "Until you hear what I've got to say."

She gulped the rest of her champagne, throwing the bottle in trash. "I need something else. Lets see what's left in there."

Laughing, he said, "Don't get greedy. There's enough for two." He opened the fridge, pulling out a beer. "Want some?"

Elena nodded. He grabbed a glass on the table, filling it half full. He handed the drink to her, his fingers brushing against hers. A spark of heat radiated through his skin. They still had it, there was no denying that.

"Thank you." She scooted over to the far corner of the bed. "I'm going to be sorry tomorrow. Vodka, champagne, and beer."

"So this drinking spree. What's going on with that?"

"I think you know the answer."

Damon kicked off his boots. He was getting hot rugged up to the hilt. He wasn't about to start undressing giving her the wrong ideas. "My mother is a drinker. Maybe I get it from her. This was all before the stuff with Enzo. Stefan not so much. He's more like our father I guess."

"Why did you tell me about him, Enzo? If you could so easily cast me aside?"

He glanced up from the green bottle in his hands. The question catching him by surprise. Elena was watching him, confusion etched on her face. Damon was done with the games. "For so long Elena, I had nothing except my own company and bottles of booze." He stared into her eyes. "Then I met you. With your persistence about getting inside my head, and you did. I told you because I care."

She put her hand up. "Stop. I got nowhere with you." Elena jumped up from the bed. "Don't tell me I'm any different to the rest of them. I want to leave right now. Let me out of here."

In a flash Damon was beside her. This was it. Now or never. "I'm not finished. You are different Elena. I never slept with Andie."

"I was there. I saw her and Andie's lipstick was smudged all over your shirt. Are you going to deny that?"

"I'm not denying that. I never slept with her Elena and that's the truth." He leant back against the wood of the door. One hand lifted her face back to his. Those eyes he adored were still full of suspicion. "I told her to make it appear like we did. In return I made a deal with Andie to do the interview."

Slapping his hand away, Elena snapped, "Are you for real? Why would you do that? Is this some sort of joke?"

He caught hold of her wrist. She needed to believe him. "It's all true. I wanted you to think we slept together."

Her eyes widened, fury sweeping across her face. "Why would you go to all that effort Damon? If you wanted to be rid of me, why didn't you just dump me? This is unbelievable," she said, shaking her head. Twisting free of his hold, she pushed him away. "Why?" She demanded again.

Damon put his hands up. "I wasn't thinking straight after the accident with Ric. I thought I was responsible for him getting hurt. You know what I did to Enzo. It was like all those feelings came flooding back. I'm sorry Elena. I messed up."

"You are an asshole. Caroline was right, you are out of your fucking mind." Elena stormed off towards the bathroom slamming the door behind her.

Damon sighed. She was still angry and he figured it was a good sign. Elena wasn't done with him yet.

Flicking the hot water tap on Elena splashed her face. Beyond pissed she scrubbed her face with the towel. How was she supposed to go out there and see him? How could Damon play such a cruel game on her? He was an imbecile, a juvenile idiot.

The guy was too messed up. Damon Salvatore was a man Elena should of walked away from a long time ago. A man who was never going to be tamed by her. There was no easy path with him. This behaviour was one she had no desire to go through time and time again. She'd go back to LA, become a doctor like her parents wanted, and meet a guy who knew how to love. Someone who didn't play these stupid games with her heart.

Yep that was her plan. She flung the door open, pushed her shoulders back and marched into the bedroom. He was lounging on the chair, he'd removed his jacket and his muscled frame was visible beneath the tight thermal top he was wearing. Averting her gaze, she snapped, "Unlock the door. I'm going home."

He didn't budge from his position. Instead he put his feet up on the end of the bed. "Not yet Elena."

Scoffing, she answered, "I don't get it Damon. Why did you take me hostage here? I despise you."

His brows lifted. "I needed to talk to you."

Elena shoved his legs off the bed. Checking her watch, she said, "Your time is nearly up." She stared at him, tapping her foot.

Damon got onto his feet and stood before her. "You asked me why. Why I went to such lengths to keep you away?"

She shrugged. What did that matter? He still wanted her gone. "I don't care anymore. You are what you are. Afraid to feel. Afraid to live your life. Just admit it Damon." Elena fixed her eyes on his, and was it just her or did she see a spark of defiance flitter through?

He grasped her face between his hands, and this time she didn't recoil from his touch. He gazed at her in wonder. The mask was gone. "I'm not afraid to feel a thing. I pushed you away when I thought I was going to hurt you in some catastrophic way. All I wanted was for you to be safe, from me. I was wrong. Tonight I went looking for you because you need to know how I feel."

Elena stared into his blue eyes mesmerized, he'd always had that effect on her. These were words she ached to hear, but it wasn't enough she needed more. Whispering, she said, "What do you feel Damon?"

His thumb stroked her face. "I feel happy when I'm with you. Like the world's a better place. I'll face the demons from my past in order to move on. Please don't give up on me, on us."

He stared into her eyes for the longest time. Elena's heart beat erratically inside her chest. He still wanted her. "Damon-"

His finger pressed against her lips. "Wait. I need to say this. What I feel most of all is something I've never experienced before. You didn't just get inside my head Elena, you sliced through the walls to my heart. I'm so in love with you. I love you. Give me another chance? I promise I won't let you down."

Tears ran down her cheeks. She was his, had always been his. Damon loved her. The events both leading them to here. Fate brought them together the first time and the second was because of this unusual path on finding love together. Her fingers traced over his face. "I was scared Damon. I knew what I felt for you. Oh my god, I love you. Do you hear me? I forgive you for your stupid stupid idea to get me to leave you forever. I want to be with you."

They stared at each other their feelings for one another now laid bare. Yes he had hurt her but the heartache she felt inside was gone. Elena was free to be with Damon and wasn't love worth taking a risk?

When his mouth connected with hers it felt like the most natural thing in the world. She inhaled the familiar scent of his deodorant, the stubble on his chin brushing against her tender skin, and the feel of his lips moving against her own. Instinctively her hands rested around his waist drawing him closer. How she'd missed this, the feel of being in his strong arms where she felt safe.

When Damon drew back, she opened her eyes slowly. She wanted more. He smiled down at her. "Sorry I got carried away. I haven't kissed you like that in awhile."

Elena's arms remained around his waist, her head resting against his chest. "Hmm I know, and I love your kisses."

His arms tightened around her. "You do huh? How much do you love them?"

She pulled away from him smiling like they were on a first date or something. This felt new and refreshing with no walls between them. "Like I could kiss you forever."

His eyes roamed over her face and down to her mouth. His eyes drawing level with hers. "You are beautiful. I've got plenty more kisses coming your way but I don't want to rush this. I've behaved like a dim-witted ass and I'm lucky you forgave me."

"Don't you forget it and never do something like that to me again."

Damon pulled her against his chest. "No chance baby. You are mine now." Scooping her into his arms, he carried her to bed, yanking the blankets down. "You must be tired. C'mon you need to rest." His hands swiftly removed her boots and jacket. When he'd settled her in snugly, he made a move towards the chair in the corner.

Realizing his intent, she called, "Damon? Stay with me, please."

He turned around. "Are you sure?"

She reached for him, pulling him back. "You said you loved me and I love you. Get in the damn bed." All she wanted was Damon to hold her tight and fall asleep listening to the beat of his heart.

Without hesitation in climbed in beside her, gathering her nice and close against his chest. "I've missed this. It feels so right. Goodnight Elena." He kissed her forehead tenderly.

Tired and drained she closed her eyes. Tonight's events weighing heavily on her mind. Tomorrow they'd talk and work it all out. "Goodnight Damon."

The sound of a car alarm startled Damon from his slumber. His eyes popped open staring at the unusual whiteness of the ceiling. Motel room. Elena. Rolling over he found the space beside him empty. Frowning, he scanned the room, nope she wasn't here either. He hopped out of bed, shoving his boots and jacket on. Then gave a few taps on the bathroom door. "Elena?" He waited a few seconds, and when there was no reply he pushed the door open. She was gone.

Striding back into the bedroom he saw the key in the door. Elena left without a word. He headed to the desk to collect his wallet when he saw it, a plain envelope with his name written on it. His heart lurched, ripping it open.

Damon

I'm sorry. Last night was a mistake.

Yes I love you and that's what scares me most of all. You are so unpredictable and my biggest fear is you'll just keep repeating these same mistakes over and over. We could have the most amazing life together, but I'm terrified of losing you, of losing us.

I want you to be happy Damon Salvatore. Forgive yourself for Enzo's death, because without it you'll never have peace.

Always

Elena xx

He read the words it must of been like a thousand times. Elena's goodbye. He lost her. The first and only woman he'd ever love and she was gone. Last night not enough to prove to her he wouldn't make the same mistakes. It was true. Why would she believe a few words he said when he'd taken no action himself?

Somehow if he found a way he'd win her back. Elena loved him and he was in love with her. He wasn't about to give up without a fight.

Slamming the motel door behind him. Damon pulled out his cell, first call going through to Andie. "I want this interview done pronto. Just tell me the time and the place?" He scribbled the details down on the back of Elena's note. "Good. See you soon."

Next up he dialled Ric, his groggy voice answering on the fifth ring. "Damon it better be good. What's up?"

"You sound chirpy. When are you allowed to leave?"

"Tomorrow I hope."

"OK. I have a favor to ask. You once conspired with Elena to get me to meet her for lunch. You owe me."

"What are you up to? I'll do it. You two loved up fools need to get it together coz I'm getting kind of sick of being the in between."

"Well buddy that is my plan. Can you make something up and ask Elena to be at this place-Gravity hotel, meeting room C at 2.00pm this afternoon?"

Alaric repeated the details. "OK got it. Leave it with me."

"Thanks. I suggest you put on the TV later, it's going live."

Damon headed towards the shop. Man he had a busy day ahead of him. His idea better work. The fear of being on TV and doing this was nothing compared to the fear he felt of really losing her forever.

A life without Elena Gilbert, what on earth was he thinking?