A/N: A short update, but I think it has sweet moments.
The next update is going to be a little rough, so be ready. I'll give you some fluff at the beginning though.
For those who wanted to read something about Paul and Nina, I have posted a chapter on my Tumblr ( .com) under DobsleyFanfiction.
The light tapping on the bathroom door had Elena turning around, her hands still behind her head as she tried to braid her hair after the shower she had taken following the afternoon spent in the pool. "Hi" Elena said, seeing Jenna.
Jenna saw Elena struggle with her hair and stepped in to help. "Let me do it" Jenna said, braiding Elena's hair loosely. "I thought we could take Stefan out to dinner tonight for his birthday" Jenna suggested.
Elena nodded. "That would be nice." Her eyes avoided Jenna's in the mirror.
Jenna's brow furrowed. "What's wrong?" she asked, tying Elena's braid.
Elena sighed, turning and leaning against the bathroom counter. "You said Jeremy has had a rough year at school" Elena told her. "I wish I had known that." Elena waited for her aunt to fire back with how Elena hadn't cared about anyone but herself the past year.
Jenna just smiled softly though, her eyes warm and nonjudgmental. She reached her hand out and placed it on Elena's arm. "You had a rough year too" Jenna reminded her. "Just because he's younger doesn't mean you're supposed to handle it any better than he has" she added.
A single tear fell from Elena's left eye, followed by two more. She wiped them away quickly. "I hate this" Elena said sadly. Jenna stood there quietly, waiting for her to continue. "I hate being sad. I hate it all." More tears fell, and she hated that too. She closed her eyes, realizing that she was crying now. "I hate this so much" she cried softly.
Jenna wrapped her arms around Elena, hugging her. "I hate it too" Jenna agreed with her. She hated that her sister and brother-in-law had to die. She hated that her niece and nephew had to suffer.
"I never thanked you for what you did for us" Elena said, sniffling as she wiped at her eyes.
"What do you mean?" Jenna asked, wiping at her own eyes that were now spilling tears.
Elena hugged Jenna tighter. "You agreeing to take care of us" Elena explained.
Jenna closed her eyes, her heart breaking as she listened to Elena. Did Elena really think that Jenna had a choice? "You and Jeremy are the single most important people in my life. I'd do anything for you two" she explained. "I love you." Elena smiled sadly, continuing to hug her aunt. It felt reassuring to hear Jenna tell her that she loved her. "I love Stefan too" she added.
Elena smiled. Stefan was definitely loveable, and if he had any major flaws, she had yet to find them.
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Stefan realized pretty quickly that he was not going to get out of going to dinner for his birthday. Jenna was dead set on celebrating, and Ric threatened to kick his ass if Stefan turned Jenna's offer down and upset her.
So Stefan began buttoning up his good plaid shirt and wore his nice pair of jeans for the special occasion. "Don't you look handsome?" Elena said, leaning against the doorframe of his bedroom. Stefan smiled, looking at her through his mirror.
"I look okay" he shrugged, fumbling with a button on his shirt. He had probably only worn that shirt a handful of times, and typically to school dances.
"Okay is an understatement" Elena replied, walking into his room to help him with his shirt.
The moment her fingers were on his shirt, his breath hitched ever so slightly. He didn't know if he would ever get used to those physical touches. But as long as he never had to live without them, that was okay. "It's really nice of your aunt to take us out" Stefan mentioned as Elena did up his shirt. "She doesn't have to do this."
Elena grinned. "Why do you always say that? Do you not like people doing things for you?" she asked him.
Stefan frowned. "I don't like people thinkin' they have to do things for me" he responded carefully.
Elena finished the last button and then smoothed out his shirt. Another excuse to be able to touch him. "I'm pretty sure you're the kind of person where people do things for you because they really want to" Elena assured him. "You're a wonderful, amazing man. You make it easy." The way Stefan was looking back at her with such intensity made her realize what she had just said. He was just getting to know the kind and caring Elena. "You would have really liked who I used to be" she said softly, looking down to where her hands had stilled on his shirt.
Stefan smiled, gathering her hands in his. "I really like who you are now" he whispered, grabbing her attention with his kind words and the soft rumble of his Wyoming accent she had grown to love.
"Stop" she told him, but she was smiling as she stared at his neatly buttoned shirt. She loved the way he talked about her, but was cautious to believe that she deserved those words he said to her. Maybe one day, she'd feel worthy. Maybe not.
Stefan smiled too, leaning in to kiss her gently. "Never" he whispered as his hands came to rest on her waist. "I love everything about you" he assured her, smiling against her lips before kissing her again.
She had no choice but to let herself believe him for the time being and to let herself melt into his melt-worthy kiss. Only the impatient hollers from Ric and Jenna downstairs could catch their attention. Though, they didn't stop kissing until Ric and Jenna threatened to come up there.
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When they got to Stefan's favorite little diner just outside of town, they all scurried inside, out of the warm evening air. Elena recognized the diner right away, since Stefan had taken her there late one evening for apple pie.
Jeremy ran in first, picking a round booth that would seat all five of them comfortably. Jeremy got in first, followed by Stefan and then Elena, because Jeremy had requested to sit next to Stefan. Jenna and Ric slid in on the other side, taking menus that the waitress brought over.
When Elena looked up, she saw Rebekah walking through the door, heading straight for the order counter. Stefan saw her too, but Elena was the first one to excuse herself from the table to go and talk to her.
"Hi" Elena said, causing Rebekah to turn around. She looked tired and sad, but Elena could tell she was improving just a little. Rebekah gave Elena a weak smile, then waved to Stefan and Ric. "That's my aunt and my brother. We're celebrating with Stefan. Would you like to join us?" Elena asked her.
Rebekah cleared her throat slightly. "I uh, I appreciate the offer, but I was going to just grab somethin' to go" she said, politely declining Elena's offer.
Elena wasn't going to take no for an answer though. "Please?" she asked. "I'd like for you to stay, and I know if would mean a lot to Stefan. And, you can meet my family" Elena told her, trying to sell her on the idea. Rebekah looked back over at the table and eventually gave a hesitant nod of agreement.
"Rebekah is going to join us" Elena announced when they got over to the table. "Aunt Jenna, Jeremy, this is Stefan's friend Rebekah. Rebekah, this is my aunt and my little brother" Elena said, introducing them all.
They exchanged pleasantries and Rebekah took a seat next to Elena. Rebekah thought she could sit there quietly, but Ric wasn't about to let that happen. "Bekah here is one of the best barrel racers in the state" Ric announced.
Rebekah couldn't help but smile, though she did shake her head in disagreement. "Ric's just bein' nice" she assured them. She was nothing special, but she was alright.
Ric scoffed at her modesty. "Help me out here Stefan" Ric told him.
Stefan nodded. "She sure is. That's why she's trainin' a few of my youngsters for me." Then Stefan leaned closer to Jeremy. "She's a cowgirl" he told Jeremy.
Jeremy's eyes lit up. "A real one?" he asked, and they all laughed.
Stefan nodded. "Born and raised. She's hit dirt more times than anyone I know. There ain't a horse she won't get on" Stefan added with a knowing smile.
Jeremy leaned over the table some to address Rebekah. "I ride Red" he said proudly.
Rebekah smiled, finding it easy to talk to this family. "Red is definitely a cowboy's horse, so you must be a cowboy then" Rebekah said.
Jeremy's eyes lit up again. "I am" he agreed. Stefan had so much as called him one, so it was a done deal. Everyone smiled and laughed some more as they placed their orders, loving that Jeremy was so fixated on all things associated with being a cowboy.
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Damon tossed the rope over the plastic steer head mounted on a bale of straw. He roped it, then walked over to undo the loop. As he walked back to his standing spot, he saw Katherine's truck pull up. Damon smiled as he coiled his rope back up, ready for another throw. "Hey pretty lil' lady" he called out.
Katherine didn't look amused. "You talk to Bekah lately?" she asked, walking up to him.
Damon shrugged. "Nope. Ain't got no reason to" he answered. "You?" he asked. Obviously, she had.
Katherine crossed her arms, scowling. "Yeah, I have" she told him. "She's pissed off and hurt Damon. She's my best friend and she hates me" Katherine told him, feeling her voice start to fail her as she referred to them as being best friends. Then the tears started. "She won't talk to me and I feel so awful about it" she told him, crying softly. She hated herself for what she had done.
It even got Damon to stop smiling. "Ah fuck Kat, don't start cryin' on me" he said, running his free hand through his hair and sighing uncomfortably. He didn't do well with women who cried. Katherine cried even harder, getting herself worked up. Damon cursed under his breath. "Come here" he sighed, dropping his rope and wrapping her up in his arms to try and console her.
"I … I feel so guilty and it hurts" Katherine said, crying into his black t-shirt he wore.
That kind of irritated him. "Hey" he said, grabbing her shoulders and pushing her off of his chest so he could look into her eyes. Katherine sniffled, but the tears kept coming. "You listen to me, ya hear?" he asked. "Bekah broke up with me. I was single and free to see anyone I wanted to. We did nothin' wrong. But she's wrong for makin' you feel bad about it" he lectured.
Katherine's sobs stopped, even though the tears continued to fall. "I don't know" she said, unsure of his reasoning.
"Hey" he said, his hands holding her face gently. "Bekah didn't want me. Stefan didn't want you" he told her, watching her face sting from the realization of it. "So we had each other that night, and it was good, right?" he asked her. Katherine nodded. It was really good.
"Was it just a one night thing?" Katherine asked, too insecure to look in his eyes when he answered.
Damon brushed a lingering tear off of her cheek. "If I had it my way, no" he answered honestly. Katherine's eyes looked up instantly, finding his. "So I guess it's your call" he shrugged. Katherine's heart beat fast inside her chest as her mind raced with thoughts of her and Damon. Maybe she had always had a little crush on Damon, but what about Rebekah? She'd never forgive her. Damon smiled, stroking her cheek a few more times. "You think about it" he told her, releasing her and stepping back.
He began walking back to his trailer, leaving Katherine standing there thinking about what he had told her. Did she just want to be with him to heal her feelings of rejection? Did she just want him to continue to take her mind off of Stefan? Did she just want sex with someone who she had already had sex with? "Damon, wait" she said, hearing his boots halt. Katherine turned around, taking a deep breath. She pushed all thoughts out of her head that suggested she tell him goodbye. "I want more" she told him, hoping he couldn't see her hands shaking.
Damon grinned. "Then get over here" he said, standing there waiting. He was pretty happy with her decision. Katherine walked over to him, unsure of what exactly she was agreeing to. She wanted more what? Damon's arms looped around her and pulled her against him. His hand ran along her shoulder, tugging at the tank top strap covering her tan skin. "So what exactly do you want more of?" he asked gruffly. He knew exactly what he wanted more of.
Katherine's breath nearly left her in a rush when she felt Damon touching her skin. She craved his touch, even after only one night of having it. "You" she barely breathed out.
His smile told her he wanted her too. Whether it was sincere or he just wanted a quick and easy lay, she wasn't sure. Damon's hands slowly slid down her back to cup her ass over her jeans and pull her against him. Then he was leaning in and kissing her. Damon groaned when he felt her hips tight against his. He still had to be gentle with her, but that didn't mean he didn't have thoughts of doing rough and dirty things with her, and having her do the same back to him. "I'll make it better this time" he promised as he whispered against her lips. The slight discomfort and awkwardness the first time was expected. She hadn't had sex before, and he was trying to figure out how best to keep her comfortable the night she had shown up broken and defeated. The second time around though, he was going to make sure she enjoyed every minute of it.
Katherine gripped his shoulders, feeling him pick her up off of the ground and walk with her towards his trailer. Maybe Damon was right. Maybe Rebekah had no right to be angry with her. Damon kicked the door shut and walked the few feet to the bed, laying her down. Damon crawled over her, taking his time as he kissed his way up her bare arms. Katherine watched him intently, feeling nervous, yet anticipating where his actions were leading to. "Damon?" she asked.
Damon kissed her shoulder a few times before he looked down at her, moving her hair out of her face. "Yeah?" he asked.
Katherine looked up at him expectantly. "Be gentle, please" she told him, knowing she wasn't the experienced one like he was after just one time.
Damon smiled, leaning down and brushing his lips against hers. "Right now is about you" he promised, studying her eyes. He could see the anticipation mixed with the anxiety. It was to be expected. Seeing that she needed a more concrete answer, he kissed her lips softly once again. "I'll be gentle" he promised grabbing the hem of her tank top, ready to get it off.
A/N: What are your thoughts about sleeping with your best friend's ex after they have broken up? I would usually be against it, but I see Damon and Katherine's point. Both are using each other to feel anything but rejection and loneliness. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing, they are coping I suppose.