I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sososososososoooooooo sorrrrrrrryyy!

I know, I know, I've been MIA lately and deserve to be lynched. I came back from holiday about 2 weeks ago and through post-holiday depression and a terrible case of writers block, Love Lessons took a back seat for a little while. But ta da! I returned with Chapter 25 for all you amazing Delena/TVD fans out there.

Thank you as always for your reviews. They make me so giddy, haha! It was lovely to come back to see so many comments, I'm really pleased you enjoyed it. And because I've been such a twerp for delaying this chapter, you get rewarded with plenty of DE ;-) enjoy!

Damon's POV

Damon stirred uncomfortably in his slumber. After what was meant to be a relaxing soak in the bathtub, it quickly turned into a wet n' wild sexual encounter with Elena - and boy was he paying the price. His body thrummed with pain. Like each of his damaged ribs had it's own heart beat, pulsing and throbbing after over-using his body. His medication was barely touching the sides. No pun intended.

'Urrgh" he groaned, flopping his head to the side to find himself nuzzling the curve of Elena's stomach. She was propped up against the head board of his bed, watching the TV on the lowest volume, the blue light of the screen illuminating the room. Damon felt awful for being such terrible company for her but she understood. In fact he thought she was quite enjoying playing nurse.

A soft brushing of fingertips through his hair almost had him purring like a lion basking in the sun. She had no idea how good it always felt for him. It was like an instant pain-relief and it made him inch closer and closer to a somewhat comfortable sleep.

Then the sharp shrill of his cell phone made them both jump between the sheets.

"Ssssshit!" Damon hissed, feeling a hot sticky sweat ripple over his skin.

With his left hand he rubbed his eyes sleepily and squinted to see Elena staring at the phone screen with a cold look.

"It's Isobel," she said in a dark tone, the piercing ring-ringing still screaming to be answered.

Damon gritted his teeth and took the phone from Elena.

"Don't make a sound, okay?" he said. She nodded slowly, looking at the TV screen that made her face glow beautifully in the dark. Damon pressed a quick kiss on her stomach, making her quiver at the sensation.

Damon accepted the call and put the device to his ear.

"Isobel?" he said, doubly making his voice sound groggy as if he'd just woke up from a deep slumber. Maybe it would make her hang up quicker. Maybe.

"Hey baby. I was just calling to let you know i've arrived safely" she said

Shame Damon thought.

"Oh good... is your dad with you?" he asked, feeling the need to make a little conversation with her. He did genuinely feel sorry that she'd lost her mother. He wouldn't wish that on anyone. But did he care about her feelings in general? No. Not a chance.

"Not right now. He's in a bad way, Damon. I wish you were here with me..."

Damon looked up to Elena, knowing she could hear every word that passed between them.

"I know you do," Damon replied, wanting to end the call. It was bothering him. It was bothering Elena. The woman was a pest and she couldn't even give things a fucking rest even when her mother had died. She just had to have her claws wedged right in there.

"Do you wish you could be here?" she said meekly, like a sad little school girl who needed a cuddle. Damon forced a smile on his face,

"Of course I do."

"...You don't sound like it, Damon."

"Iz i've just woken up. I'm sorry, I'm not all there at the moment."

"I've just lost my mother Damon!" she sobbed, sounding like she was falling apart on the other end of the phone. "You could at least make some fucking effort!"

"I'm on enough medication to knock the shit out of an elephant Isobel! Give me a goddamn chance!"

"I know, I know that, I'm sorry, I just wish..." she broke down completely, sobbing and spluttering down the phone, saying things Damon couldn't quite make out. He could feel Elena's body seize up next to him, feeling uncomfortable with the phone conversation unfolding next to her. "... it's hard doing this alone when I wish I could have brought you with me. You'd make it all better..." she weeped, confiding in him as though they'd been in a long-haul relationship. It was disturbing almost...

"I know, and I'm sorry I can't be, but it's your family you need right now" Damon said, trying to put some empathy into his voice.

"That's true. But Damon I feel like... like you're my family now. I... I love you, Damon... I really do."

Damon felt his body run cold at her words, and almost called after Elena as she slipped out of the sheets to walk swiftly out of the room into the den. He went to throw the linen from his body, forgetting about his ribs and his right hand. A searing pain engulfed him so badly he couldn't even cry out because of the pain.

"Damon? Honey are you there?"

"Uh huh... I just... shit" he gasped, struggling to form words.

"Your ribs?"

"Yeah... I'm gonna hafta go, Iz" he heaved, cradling his right arm to his chest. "I'll call in the morning."

"Okay baby."

"G'night Isobel."

"You won't forget to call will you?"

"No, I won't"

"Promise?"

"I promise. Now goodnight."

"Well I'll be waiting for it. You know i'll be-"

Damon hung up and allowed himself a good five minutes to let his body settle before making a move to find Elena.

For a moment as he shuffled through to the lounge, he panicked in thinking that she'd left. It was dark and silent. He momentarily began to feel extremely pissed off if she'd walked out because of Isobel calling. She knew the situation he was in and unless he wanted a 2 year prison sentence to look forward to, she would have to accept it. But suddenly the clinking of a spoon stirring in a cup settled his anger.

Damon watched silently from the corner as Elena floated around his kitchen. The light of the open fridge glowed against her dark hair and smooth skin as she made herself a large mug of hot chocolate. Damon could smell it from here and it made him a little queasy. His medication played havoc with his appetite and he felt a little drowsy standing on the same spot for so long.

He wordlessly walked towards her, she locked her gaze onto him as he stood opposite her, watching her with his dark, glazed eyes as she turned to put the milk back in the fridge.

"I'm sorry I stormed out just then," she said without looking. Her tiny hand gripping the door of the refrigerator long after she had closed it.

Damon waited for her to turn around and when she did, her hair fanning around her naked shoulders, he saw tears prickling in her eyes.

"It just hurts to hear her say that to you... those three words..."

Damon breezed around the counter towards her and she carefully wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face against his chest. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and rocked her from side to side as best as he could.

"It's the first time she's said that. Took me by surprise too" he explained.

"And she'll keep on saying it. And you'll eventually have to say it back. I know it won't mean anything, but... but the thought still makes me feel sick to my stomach."

Damon drew her back so he could look into her eyes. He could just make out her face in the darkness and he stroked away the strands of hair that skewed across her sorrowful face.

"If I thought I could get away without saying it I would. No question about that. But you've seen how far the bitch is willing to go to make this work for herself. I'm incredibly lucky to be here in my home right now."

"Oh God don't say that Damon," she breathed, moving back to hug him, sliding her hands deep into his hair, "I was so scared for you. I thought it was over. I thought she'd won."

"She very nearly did," he said, pushing out the horrendous flashbacks of his interrogation earlier that week. How he nearly slipped up, barely getting by his questioning by the skin of his teeth, close to drifting away from the story that he and Isobel complied together. "But we're okay..." he said, swallowing the thick lump in his throat, not entirely convinced with his words, "we're okay...you hear me?"

He felt her nod beneath him, her hold never breaking from its tight grip around him.

"Ugh I wanted to avoid talking about any of this" she groaned, moving away again where Damon found her with the cutest pout on her face. He began to smirk as she looked up and she slowly melted into a smile herself. "Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Your little smirking act when I'm trying to be serious... and now you're doing the eye-thing!"

Damon playfully arched his eyebrows, knowing he would be rewarded with a giggle and he got it. But he noticed as she looked back down between their bodies that there was still a world of worry on her shoulders. He curled a finger around one of her thick locks of hair that flowed in soft waves. Those bold and beautiful eyes stared back up and behind their watery depths he could see she still had plenty she wanted to talk about. Lord knows he didn't want to waste time talking about the various ways the shit had hit the fan in the last couple of weeks but it was clearly needed. For both of them.

"Say whatever is on your mind, Elena."

She automatically shook her head, smiling weakly.

"It's okay, it doesn't matter."

"It matters to me," said Damon sternly, hating to see her look so fragile. Was this the state she had been in constantly for the last week or so? She looked incredibly meek and vulnerable. "And I hate to say, honey, but the likelihood that we'll get to talk about this any time soon is very, very slim. So whatever you've got to say... hit me with it..."

"Have you slept with her?"

Whoa... that almost knocked the wind out of him. He'd expected it, but to actually hear it was awful and made him feel like he'd been kicked in the gut. He untwined his finger from around her hair to cup and caress her cheek. Elena looked away, as if in acceptance of a negative answer, even though he hadn't replied yet.

"No - I haven't slept with her."

She darted her eyes upwards in disbelief.

"You... you haven't?"

Damon shook his head, a tiny smile twitching at the corner of his lips.

"I'm not to over-exert myself. Doctors orders."

"But... but we..."

"I could've shattered my entire ribcage Elena and I still would have made love to you tonight. To hell with Doctors orders on that one," he smirked, enjoying the look of relief wash over her face. Thankfully the question of what would happen when Isobel was satisfied he was healed to make love to her never surfaced. Damon knew he couldn't give Elena the answer she would want for that one. Like most of his thoughts, he pushed them to the back of his mind. "What else is niggling in that head of yours, hm?" he asked.

"Your safety. When I saw you with the cops the other day I... I was scared you were being sent away."

"They didn't have enough evidence against me. Nothing in fact, say for the crumpled notes found in kids' lockers. I'm just going to be the talk of the school for a long time when I get back."

"You're coming back! ?" she gasped, totally taken by surprise, "I thought you'd gone for good!"

Damon shook his head, "disciplinary. I'll be back just before Christmas break. Another three weeks, a little less."

He saw the smile on her face quickly drift away. Her emotions were all over the place. "I won't be in your class though will I?" she said sadly. Damon watched her hands slide down his bare chest, enjoying the sensation of her warm palms on his cool skin.

"Whose class have you been placed in?"

Don't say Isobel. Please don't say Isobel...

"I'll be in Mr Saltzman's as of Monday."

Damon breathed a massive sign of relief, resting his forehead gently on hers.

"Is that a good thing?" she asked, inching her head upwards so her nose touched the tip of Damon's. He instinctively bowed his head lower to capture her parted lips in a brief, gentle kiss.

"Very."

"But he saw us. He was so close to telling everyone. What if he-"

"He won't Elena. Trust me."

"But how can you be sure?" she pushed, clearly untrusting of Alaric and Damon couldn't blame her. She knew him as the English teacher in classroom E2. Nothing more.

"You have no idea how much that guy has helped me this last week. I'd be in a far worse state than I am now if Alaric hadn't have helped me. He knows what Isobel's up to. He'll watch out for you... as horribly corny as that sounds, he will."

Elena giggled and Damon felt his stomach dance at the sound. "I'm glad. I was worried he'd give me a hard time about it. Or I was scared incase in he was in on the whole thing with Isobel."

"The guy despises that woman as much as I do. We're lucky to have him on our side. Along with your friend."

"Bonnie," said Elena, grinning from ear to ear, "I can't believe she went to this effort for me. For us. I thought she'd be horrified at us together but she really isn't. I'm so lucky to have her right now."

Damon listened intently while she spoke, allowing her to release everything that had been wound tightly inside her. The stress was falling away before his eyes. Her stance, her glow, her whole being seemed to light up a little again.

"Have you told your other friend? Caroline?"

"Nu uh. She's one for gossip. I could never trust her with this. Bonnie she's... she's all I have."

Damon felt a sudden tremor of doubt creep over his skin at the next question, that for some reason, shock-waved to the forefront of his mind like a bullet to the brain. "What about Stefan?"

Her eyes darkened.

Shit.

"He... he almost caught me out."

"Whatdoyoumean?" Damon rushed, moving back to see her face properly. He needed the truth on this. And he needed it now.

"It was at a party. Everyone was talking about the two of us, the rumours had just begun and he thought they were true. Nothing I said could convince him..."

"And he's still unconvinced?"

"I... I don't know."

Damon clenched his jaw. And fist.

"You don't know?"

"He gave me a ride home and when I asked if he believed me, that me and you were a ridiculous lie he didn't say anything. He just drove off. When he saw me at school Monday he was full of apologies, saying he was a dick for believing all the gossip. I fired him off, but... but whether he was just saying that to get in my good graces I don't know. If i'm being totally honest..."

Damon waited a few moments until his heart rate slowed down. This felt completely different from Alaric knowing, even Isobel. It was the fact that Stefan was out of his control. He couldn't reason with him, only Elena could do that and it sounded like her efforts had been thwarted. His heart began to beat so heavily again that his ribs started to ache.

"I need to lie down," he said, turning out of Elena's hold and walking back towards his room in the darkness.

No sooner had he made it beside his large bed, Elena was right by his side, ready to ease him in between the sheets.

"Elena I'm fine," he said, but he held his tongue as she ignored his requests and pulled back the sheets so he was free to slide in without a struggle. He knew he was playing the stubborn man role the entire time. But secretly, he was appreciating every little bit of help Elena doted on him. And then he realized he was bordering on dickhead behaviour. "I'm sorry for acting like such a jerk."

"Don't worry about it," she said. He could tell she was smiling contently.

"I just hope the kid keeps his mouth shut," he huffed, struggling to speak properly as he reclined back against his mattress without hurting himself. His attempts failed.

"Well he hasn't said anything. And surely if he was going too, he would have mouthed -off days ago when it all kicked off." Elena explained, plumping up Damon's pillows so they were thick and full beneath his weary head.

"Do you have any idea how amazing you are?" he found himself saying, watching her pause in her actions above him, her body leaning over his.

"You're the amazing one," she said quietly, almost barely above a whisper.

Damon felt his eyes flutter as she leaned down and kissed him, her hair falling down onto his cheeks, sheilding them in a veil of rich, brunette colour. Reaching across with his left hand he coaxed her onto the bed to his side, deepening the kiss until he was lost; consumed in a world of Elena. No one had ever had the capability to make him come so undone. Katherine was close, she knew how to push his buttons and he couldn't get enough of her. But Elena was so much more; her innocence and beauty astounded him and whenever he was without her he needed her. Plain and simple. He couldn't live with her, and he was more than afraid that that may soon become a reality...

Overwhelmed with love and need for the incredible girl curling next to him, Damon swooped to lean over her tiny body. The pain that followed...

"Fuck!" he hissed, growling through tightly clenched teeth that made his jaws ache with the pressure. He felt Elena's tiny hands press on his pectoral muscles, urging him to lay back on the bed so that he was flat on his back.

"Are you okay? Damon? Do you need anything?" he heard, seeing Elena panic through his squinted eyes.

As the hot, knifing pains slowly ebbed away Damon felt his breathing steady. It was so easy for him to forget how injured he was. A cast on a broken arm is visable, so is a leg. But it somehow slipped his mind that the slightest movement could upset his battered bones. It was driving him up the fucking wall and he felt weak and pathetic. Oh he could hear his father's voice now...

"Damon?"

"I'm okay 'Lena." he said, opening his eyes to see her sat above him, smoothing a hand through his jet black hair. The tender contact almost lulling him to sleep like an anesthetic.

"Are you sure? Do you need anything?"

"Yeah - I need you to kiss me..."

ELENA'S POV

"I need you to kiss me..."

Elena felt her entire body shudder.

"Now that I can definitely arrange for you," she whispered, pressing her moist lips against his, feeling him hum at the contact, the deep sound of it in his throat making her stomach quiver.

It quickly turned from innocent to full on passion. It amazed Elena how kissing with tongues used to freak her out. Stefan was like a washing machine on overdrive! But Damon knew exactly what he was doing. Soft, lustful moans escaped from her as he slowly drove his tongue into her mouth to meet with hers. She was unable to think clearly with how hazy his actions made her. All thought had completely gone out of the window. She could only feel.

"Anything else?" she asked breathlessly against his plump lips. His eyes in the darkness were a fierce blue. They were so intense, drawing her in under their hypnosis. She was at his command.

"I want you to straddle me" he said, his voice low, sexy and deliciously sinful to her ears.

Elena raised her right leg to settle it over the other side of his body. Her muscles felt a little tense after their fun in the bath earlier that evening, but she wasn't complaining. It wasn't like Damon could toss her over and take control with the state he was in. He was lucky enough to be able to walk without aid. She watched his left hand glide up and down the supple skin of her thigh, while the right remained limp by his side, unable to join in the fun.

Damon slowly arched his hips upwards and Elena found herself rolling her head backwards, humming at the feel of his erection teasing against the delicate fabric of her underwear. In the faint light she could see him staring at her hungrily, his eyes blazing with lust, hair disheveled around his handsomely chiseled face, shadowing the bruises at his temple - he looked incredible.

"Anything else you need me to do?" Elena asked, not waiting for an answer as she trailed her fingers down to his thick girth that protruded from his boxers.

His left hand reached out to stop her, a complete contrast from his actions to their session in the bathtub earlier. She looked to him for guidance.

"Take these off," he drawled, tugging at her lacy underwear. As gracefully as she could, Elena leaned upwards to slide each leg out, making sure not to knock his body. She settled back along the length of his manhood that was still restrained in his black boxers. Elena had figured out a while ago that she was an impatient one when ti came to the bedroom, and just wanted to get him naked. Her fingers itched to pull back the fabric that kept her from her prize, but as she moved forward he stopped her again.

"What would you like me to do now?" she whispered, a tad confused, but extremely excited.

His hand slipped to gently squeeze her thigh, then proceeded to pull her upwards until she was gliding over his stomach.

"Damon," she gasped, watching as he guided her over his black and blue ribs, wondering what on earth he was wanting to...

A hot flush peppered Elena's cheeks as she saw her most intimate area hovering just below his chin, knowing what he was about to do.

"I want you to feel Elena," he drawled, looking directly above into her eyes with heavy lust and love.

"But I... I mean I've never..." she suddenly felt very embarrassed. Not because she was in such an erotic position with Damon, or of what he might think of her, but what if she lost control? From the tell tale thrum of pleasure buzzing through her stomach and the wetness between her legs, she knew she was going to enjoy this a hell of a lot and was scared she would hurt him.

She gasped with uncertainly as Damon inched her closer to place a soft kiss on her inner thigh, his tongue swirling deliciously over her heated skin, repeating the tender process as he moved closer to his goal. She was still blushing and she mentally kicked herself for being silly enough to close her eyes and look away.

Then she felt one, tentative lick of his tongue on her clit.

Heaven.

Her eyes darted open as his left hand pulled her down onto his eager mouth. Elena couldn't control the groans and sighs that rolled from her lips as she felt Damon's tongue work its magic. Her entire body felt like it was being massaged with pleasure, becoming stronger and unbearably addictive as he treated her sensitive nub to the rhythmic taps of his slick, wet tongue. Elena found her shivering arms searching for the headboard, gripping onto it for dear life as she allowed herself to feel as Damon instructed.

"Mmh! Damon-ohthisfeelsso-oh!"

She was going to burst. As soon as he added one finger, and then another, she knew she was going to simply burst. But she found herself gently thrusting against his waiting mouth, and from the distant sound of his breathless groans between her legs he was absolutely loving it.

When colours began to sparkle behind her closed eyes, Elena opened them to find herself staring upwards at the blank ceiling. As her eyes ghosted down the length of her body to find it glossy with a sheen of sweat, she found herself staring down at Damon, and the most erotic sight she'd probably ever see in her life.

When his heavy-lidded eyes spotted her staring, he sucked gently on her clit one last time before flashing her his trademark smirk, paired with a hum of satisfaction.

"I need you to do one more thing, Elena" he drawled, momentarily resting his head on the pillow. Elena struggled to regulate her breathing, resorting to panting, desperately wanting him to continue. She'd never felt so close...

"Anything."

Smirk still in place on his glistening lips, Elena tightened her hold on the headboard, her fingers sliding along the polished wood with her sweat. He leaned forward to her womanhood once more, his hot breath dancing over her sensitive flesh.

"I want you to come for me."

Her stomach coiled with desire and a sharp gasp broke out from her tiny body as Damon doubled his efforts, tunneling his fingers inside her silky walls at such a rapid pace Elena could barely keep up. He teased her, really teased her as he treated her swollen nub to the occassional flick of the tongue, never keeping it consistent, making her release linger that little bit longer.

"Oh God Damon, please" she begged, attempting to grind herself against his mouth, to which he would abruptly stop. "No, keep going! Don't stop!" she pleaded, suddenly feeling the all too familar tremble overcome her body, "I'm so..." she groaned, throwing her head back and freezing with overwhelming pleasure as Damon brought her to orgasm.

The feeling was blinding, her body consumed and devoured by his touch. A hot and cold sweat blanketed her skin as her pleasure floated into tingles, making her twitch and jump with sensitive delight as he drank her in.

"Damon..." she breathed, trying her best to make eye contact but far too weak to do so. All of her energy, what was left of it, was traveling straight to her hands as she continued to hold herself in place with the headboard.

Finally she managed to gazed down at him, her vision slightly blurred for some reason. Probably with how tight she was closing her eyes. He looked almost as wiped out as she did, his magnificent orbs a content blue, his lips that glistened with the remnants of her juices slowly curled into a satisfied smile as his left hand stroked the curve of her behind. She shuddered at the touch and slowly slipped her way down to lay on the crisp bed sheets with him, gazing up to his face.

"That was incredible," she whispered, kissing his shoulder, being careful not to upset his right hand that remained perfectly still.

"Good," he said as she nuzzled her head against the curve of his shoulder, feeling his dark hair mingle with hers. "I just wish I wasn't in such a mess. I'd have been able to make you moan ten times louder than that," he joked.

"You make each and every thing we do incredible, Damon. I couldn't ask for more than that," she said tiredly, completely spent and drifting away into a well deserved sleep.

But for whatever reason, the heart-breaking image of Isobel with Damon, right there, in his bed, naked and moaning with pleasure, flashed through her mind. Elena squirmed against the mattress, trying to rid herself of it - but it wasn't going away.

Her imagination cruelly played back some of her most intimate moments with Damon that she cherished and thought about whenever she had a minute, and which she would spend hours reminiscing about. Making love for the first time, their naughty excursions at the lake house, the excitement of getting caught in his classroom, their goodbye beside the waterfall. Her own image was replaced with Isobel. Like Elena had never existed. The mind could play such horrible tricks, and Elena tightened her grip around Damon's bicep.

"That hurts a little honey" he groaned, rousing from his sleep.

"Sorry!" Elena hissed, untangling her arms from around his own, "I'll be careful. I'll sleep over-"

"Just because we can't spoon doesn't mean you have to sleep on the edge of the bed," she heard him tease. His left hand beckoned her over to that side of the bed. With a bitter stinging in her eyes she crawled over and settled herself against his good side, ressuming her possessive hold. "Elena?"

"Hm?" she said, keeping her eyes closed as she made herself comfortable.

"What's wrong?" he asked. Jeez he could read her like a book.

"It's noth-"

"Don't gimme that" he warned, playfully poking her thigh with his left hand. "Tell me."

"It's just my silly teenage girl thoughts" she mumbled.

"Well if they're silly there's no harm in me knowing right?"

Elena toyed with the idea of telling him about her Isobel woes. It wasn't like he could do anything about it, so what was the point in moaning? But still, the thoughts plagued her, they still would after they'd talk about it, but perhaps it would become easier to block them out if she told him.

"I just hate imagining her being with you like this. Like we are now" she said, feeling her mouth become a little dry. "I hate the thought of her taking away what is mine."

Damon wrapped his left arm tighter around her and Elena struggled to keep the tears back as she felt him plant a soft kiss on her forehead.

"I don't want to lie and say that it won't happen, because it most likely will. If there was a loophole out of this I wouldn't give her a thread of satisfaction. But there isn't one. All it would take is for her to march into your Uncle's classroom, or directly into the police station with couple of photos in her hand and that would be it. I'd be in a cell by dinner time and who knows when i'd be out."

Elena knew he wasn't trying to scare her, or give her a lecture about their situation, but his words still had her crying in his arms.

"But I want you to know," he said, his voice deep and meaningful, his arm wrapping tighter around her tiny shoulders, "that I will hold it off for as long as I can. The silver lining about getting beaten to a pulp is that I have the perfect excuse, to avoid having sex with her" he said, a hint of amusement in his voice that had her giggling through her tears. "I just wish I had suggested the obvious thing for us to do a long time ago."

Elena sniffled and thumbed away the salty tears from her eyes.

"And what was that?""

She looked up to meet his gaze dead on. She knew what he was about to say to her.

"That we got the Hell out of Mystic Falls when we had the chance."

So there you have it! We're finally on the road to the end! *sobs*

I know I've been terrible for not updating, but I would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter and what you'd like from the next. I have the ending vaguely mapped out. It's not gonna be pretty... but who knows what will happen in the end right?

Anna x