Heyy guys, new update!

See ya at the bottom :)

Damon's POV

I used to believe that I knew Elena better than I knew myself.

Over the years, I'd become so in tune to her, that I could read her every thought with the slightest indication.

This was as sure to me as the air I breathed with every inhale.

I knew what she wanted before she could even say it, and had usually tried to understand her points.

But for what I really knew, I might as well have been blind.

Elena was the embodiment of everything good in my life, but feeling what she felt in the moment the bond formed between us, it wasn't something I understood.

Her mind had jumped to our children, had clung to them, and my heart had felt like it was going to explode with the sheer devotion and love she eluded.

I had known then that Klaus hadn't been lying.

Losing these young would destroy her beyond repair.

God, it was no wonder she was fighting so hard to keep them alive and well inside of her.

The emotions that tied her to them were crippling in their strength, and her will to protect them was even stronger.

It suddenly didn't matter what she'd told me before; she loved those babies more than she could love me.

She loved them more than I loved her, and that was the strongest thing I'd ever felt before today.

There was no way in hell she was giving up their life for her own.

No way in hell.

This knowledge echoed through me over the next fifteen minutes, as the witches cleaned up from the spell, and Alaric checked again that we felt fine.

Elena was still in my arms, staring down at the mark that scorched her wrist.

It looked like a brand on the skin, in the design of what appeared to be two trinity symbols that overlapped to form a circle in their middle.

The identical match was on my own wrist, but I paid it no mind.

There were more important things to consider right now.

Damn, I owed Elena an apology.

Actually, I owed her more than that, but an apology would be a good start.

Her gaze flickered up at me, clearly sensing, or literally feeling, the shift in my mood.

"I'm taking her to our room," I announced, ignoring her questioning look, "Thanks again for this."

I didn't wait around to hear their responses, opting instead to lead Elena toward the door.

Once in our room, I slid the lock into place behind us, and took my time turning around to face my mate.

She sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for whatever it was I wanted to say.

Though to be honest, it wasn't the easiest things to put into words.

"You feel guilty," she guessed, after another moment of silence passed.

I chuckled humorlessly.

Damn she was picking this up quick.

"I'm supposed to be the one telling you that."

She smiled, "Maybe you could just tell me why."

I nodded, and sighed, "I feel it, kitten...I...I get it."

Her brows pulled together, and I moved to sit beside her on the mattress.

"Get what?" she asked, turning to face me.

"Why you're willing to die for them," I answered, "I feel it."

She stared at me for a moment, then dropped her gaze to my hand, which reached for the one in her lap.

"I love them," she stated simply.

"I knew that," I said, "But I never imagined...I couldn't comprehend it, before. I've never felt anything as strong as that."

"Yes you have," she looked back up at me, "I feel you too, Damon. I feel how much you love me."

"And I wish it compared to that."

She smiled slightly, "It does, and doesn't. It's like I told you before, the way I love you isn't more or less than the way I love them, it's just different. I think it'll make more sense to you, when you love them the way I do."

I frowned, "You think I don't love them?"

Her head immediately shook, and I knew her next words were the truth, "No, of course I know that you do...but I've literally felt everything you feel now. You love them for being yours, and for being mine. You love them as your young...but they aren't real to you yet. Maybe it's that way with all males. I think I heard that somewhere, about men becoming fathers when they see the children, and women becoming mothers from the second they know they are pregnant…"

Her sentence trailed off, along with her thoughts, and I watched her face until she found her way back.

"But you'll see," she said surely, "We're all going to be alright now."

If felt too soon to know that for sure, but her confidence made me hopeful.

She truly believed what she was saying.

She truly believed that she was going to live through this.

"You're still doubtful," she mused, reaching out to touch my face.

I fell into her touch easily, "Guess there's no point in trying to lie about that."

She stroked her thumb across my cheek, "None whatsoever. But it's okay. I felt some of your memories when the binding happened. I know how hard this is for you...how strongly you're trying to be okay for my sake."

A pained expression crossed her features, and she exhaled, "I know what it means for you, if I die."

I reached up and took her hand from my face, clasping it into my own, "I would die with you."

She nodded, and her emotions were inline with my own.

The possibilities that we had to be prepared for, but the wishing in something better.

"I am sorry though," I whispered, "For what I tried to make Alaric do. For what I tried to make you do. If I'd known-"

"Shh," she stopped me with a shake of her head, "That doesn't matter now, baby. You willingly gave up before you knew what I felt, just because of what you thought I did. There's no need to apologize."

I sighed, and reached out to her, pulling her against me, and falling back onto the mattress so that we laid sideways, curled into each other.

"I hate that you aren't well," I admitted, "I've hardly ever seen you sick, let alone this sick. It scares me."

"I haven't been this sick in a long time," she nodded, "Not since I turned. Like I said before, being a werewolf does help in that aspect. Hell, I can't even remember the last time I was sick before this."

I could, because it was my fault.

"You were still human," I reminded her, "Just after the first time we slept together."

She looked up at me, surprised, "I remember that. I got a cold or something. I had a fever all that next week."

I felt my face flush, and the embarrassment was impossible to hide from her, "What?"

"I never told you before," I sighed, "But it was my fault...the reason you got sick."

Elena rose a brow, "And how do you figure that?"

"I bit you."

Confusion filled her, "Later. But I was still human when-"

"No," I shook my head, "I bit you that night. The first time we were together…"

"Oh."

She would obviously remember that.

I looked down at her, "To be honest, I shouldn't have even went through with it that night; the sex. I was too wired, wanted you too badly. I think I knew that I wouldn't be able to stop myself from marking you. But we both know how well I behave when it comes to you."

She chuckled a little, and I adjusted against the mattress, "It wouldn't have turned you. We have to be in wolf form for that to happen, but you know that."

She nodded.

"Still though, there are side effects sometimes to our bites in a human shape. I mean, it's in our nature to mark. It's the reason Stefan avoided females for so long, and refused to sleep with anyone in school. The Change was still new, and he was afraid he wouldn't be able to stop himself from biting whoever he was with. Me on the other hand...I didn't care."

It was cold, but it was the truth.

"Before you, kitten, human's meant so little to me, I really didn't give a damn if a female had to take off work for a day or two because my bite made her bedridden. But when it came to you...it was different. I considered the outcome for the first time."

Elena was looking up at me curiously, as if comparing the story she remembered in her head to see how it aligned with my version.

"You were very attentive," she recalled, "You hardly left me, even though I was afraid you'd get sick too."

I laughed, "Yeah. That was my first taste of guilt in many years. I tried to appease it."

"I liked having you around," she smiled, "To be honest, I think that's when I first started falling for you."

I kissed the side of her head, "It was the same for me. That's when I realized what I cared for you went beyond instincts. But I knew that you would heal from the side effects of the bite. This however...it's an entire different ball game."

She nodded, "But at least this spell worked. It's already helping."

I glanced down at her, "True. Though you should try to eat something...see if that's possible. And I'll Change. Hopefully that'll take the edge off for you, because I can feel the tension."

She nodded with a smile, "Whatever you say, Alpha."

That word, as usual, spiked something in me when it rolled from her tongue, calling all of my attention in the need to hear her speak it again.

To stop myself from demanding that she do exactly that, I kissed her instead.

Which was clearly a mistake.

Elena's lust slammed into me like a wall of stone, robbing my breath and setting a fire to my own desires.

Not only could I feel the arousal she emitted in her scent, but I could actually taste the pulse of the hormones urging her against my body.

Her hand flew to my hair, pinning my mouth to hers in a death grip, and I couldn't remember why I'd ever wanted to fight this.

Her tongue darted out, and as soon as I opened to her, she moaned, and my body jolted in response.

I wanted her more than I ever had before, and maybe it was just because I could literally feel her need for me.

With a growl, I took her down onto the bed, and moved to cover her body with my own, before rational thought caught up with me.

She was pregnant.

And her body was weak.

Actually, it had been weak.

Now, I could feel the strength it siphoned from me, and the rebuttal of her mind that came with it.

"Don't," she begged me, "Don't stop."

Another wave of desire coursed over me, and I let Elena kiss me again.

Maybe she would be strong enough now that it wouldn't-

I shook my head.

No, I couldn't let my own selfish wants jeopardize-

"Daaamon," Elena groaned as I pulled away, and climbed back to my feet.

My will almost crumbled at the sight of her, so open and willing to receive me, splayed across our bed like a goddess of sexual desire.

Swollen lips, tousled hair...and those breasts.

I closed my eyes, trying to control myself, "I told you before. I don't think it's a good idea."

Elena sat up, and I felt annoyance flood my body.

I realized after a second that the emotion belonged to her.

"I can feel how badly you want me," she insisted, "Don't pull away. We'll be fine."

Her conviction was convincing, but my stubbornness was strong.

Unfortunately, so was hers.

"Unless you plan on commanding me again," she shot, crossing her arms.

I rolled my eyes, "It was necessary at the time, kitten. It's not like I want to do it. But I needed to make you understand."

She crooked her head and stood up.

I watched her warily as she took a step forward, the Alpha in me rising up to instruct her submission if need be.

Apparently she knew this, because her eyes were narrowed, daring me to try.

I sighed, "Elena-"

"No, I'm going to tell you how this is going to work," she decided, and before I could try to read her intent, I felt my body move.

My back hit the wall of our bedroom, despite the fact that nothing had touched me.

Eyebrows drawn, I glanced over to Elena, knowing what she'd done.

"I told you that I was feeling better," she smirked, walking toward me slowly.

A sensation that could best be described as electric filled my veins, and I wondered if this was her magic.

Is this what it felt like?

"What are you doing?" I tried to ask her, but when my mouth opened, no sound came out.

Elena grinned, "It's hard to give an Alpha command when you can't speak, isn't it baby?"

I narrowed my eyes at her, unamused.

"Yeah, I didn't figure you'd like that very much," her voice was teasing, "But I had a thought."

There was an excitement coming off of her that was only barely concealing her raging hormonal lust.

"We're supposed to be bound completely, right?" she pointed out, "So if I feel pain, you'll feel it too….but what about pleasure?"

Her hands moved to her jeans, and she pulled them off.

I grit my teeth as she straightened, "Seems like it might be worth testing out."

I opened my mouth to protest, but again, no sound came out.

"Shh," Elena smiled, "It's my turn to make you understand."

I closed my eyes as her hand trailed down, dipping into her panties.

But blocking the image did nothing to stop the sensation.

I felt the spike of her pleasure at the touch all over my body, as if it had been my underwear she'd reached into.

My dick punched into my jeans, more than willing to go along with this, and I let out a soundless growl.

Elena's laugh had me opening my eyes, "There's my male. Hungry and ready."

I glared at her, but the gaze was probably so clouded with my desire, the threat was lost along the way.

My mate stepped forward, and her scent burned my nose in the best way.

"Do you want a taste," she breathed the question, bringing the hand that had teased her up to my lips, "See how wet you make me?"

Her fingers glimmered with proof of how much she craved me, and God help me, I shouldn't have done it, but her offer was impossible to refuse.

Without violation from my mind, my body responded to her, lurching forward and sucking her fingers into my mouth.

The taste of her on my tongue nearly had me coming in my pants, and I moaned, taking in more of her.

Elena's eyes were heated pools of brown liquid, and I couldn't look away from them as I sucked her clean.

When there was nothing left to appease me, I grazed my teeth on her skin, and I practically felt her run wet at the motion.

I wanted so badly to dive between those thighs of hers and taste all of what she would give me, and not stop until she was falling apart, screaming my name.

"Do it," she whispered, knowing exactly what I wanted.

I felt her magic release my body, and this time I didn't stop to consider the consequences.

Her back hit the mattress and I ripped away her underwear, replacing the lace with my mouth.

It was all that I'd imagined and more, because with every stroke of my tongue she moaned and I experienced her pleasure like it was my own.

She built, the tension coiling in my body as well, until we both crashed, Elena crying out and me ruining my jeans.

But Elena wasn't finished, and my dick remained hard for her.

Hands on my shoulders forced me down, and as my back touched the floor, my mate straddled me.

A few quick motions and my zipper was opened, allowing her to pull my erection free.

The mix of our cum was lubricant enough for her to slide down with ease, and I let my head fall back.

God, I missed this.

Elena rocked on top of me, and I reached up, running my palms over her breast, then her stomach.

And I knew then that nothing would ever compare to this moment.

I was connected to my mate in every way possible, and the proof of our love grew inside of her womb.

The intimacy of this moment was shattering.

"I love you," I breathed out, and she smiled above me.

"I love you too."

An hour and three orgasms later, we were finally satisfied, and had even managed to shower.

Elena leaned back against me under the spray, and sighed happily, "I needed that."

I smirked at the pleased tone, "Not that you were giving me much choice."

Her eyes shot up to me, "Hey, fair's fair."

I chuckled, kissing the side of her head, "I suppose you're right."

"Besides," she noted, "You were enjoying yourself."

"Not denying it," I told her, "But as long as you feel alright…"

"I do," she promised, turning to face me, "Really, I feel better than I have in weeks."

And she did.

Her contentment was a tangible emotion that eased me in ways nothing else could.

This bonding spell might actually have been all that we needed.

"Still wouldn't hurt to make sure you can eat something," I told her, and she nodded, "As soon as we finish here, we'll go downstairs. You can Change, and I'll try to eat. Then we're going to bed, because I'm exhausted."

I grinned, "I wonder why…"

She hit my arm, but smiled anyway.

There were a handful of people still awake, as we made our way to the kitchen later.

Stefan was the first to come over to us, along with the little blonde human.

"Are you okay?" Caroline asked immediately, reaching for Elena, "Did the connection spell thingy work? I thought you'd be down earlier, and I was worried, but the guys wouldn't let me go find you-"

Instead of the twinge of annoyance that usually flooded me at her exuberance, I felt the swell of Elena's affection for the human girl.

"It worked," she assured her, "And everything's fine. We were just...adjusting. But now we thought we'd test the bond with food."

Caroline nodded, "Okay good. Hopefully it works, because even though it may be different for werewolves, all of that raw meat can't be good for the babies. They need variety! And if you can keep food down, you should probably look into getting some vitamins, so that-"

I drowned out whatever else she said by turning to my brother.

"Things good down here?"

He nodded, "So far. The guys running now should be back in another few minutes."

Then he smirked, "Sounds like things were working out well up there too."

I glanced towards the back door, and ignored his jibe, "I'll go with you on the next rotation. If this connection spell can help level Elena's need to turn, we should find out for sure."

He nodded again, and luckily, dropped the teasing, "Sure thing. Anyone particular you wanted on the run?"

I thought over the question, "You, Klaus, and two other pack members. Just pick someone, but I want Alaric and Mason to stay here with the girls."

"I'll tell them," he offered.

I gave the permission, and he left to do exactly that, disappearing into the hall.

Elena had moved across the room with Blondie, and was looking in the fridge.

I allowed my eyes an appreciative roam over body before walking over and grabbing her hips.

I pulled her back against my chest and she relaxed into me with a smile.

My head fell to the crook of her neck, and I purred into her hair.

A wave of embarrassment came off of Caroline, but I ignored her as I kissed Elena's head, "Anything sound good?"

She shrugged, "Nothing and everything at the same time. But I feel like I should try eating something with a vegetable in it."

I laughed, "Probably a good idea, maybe try a sandwich. It'll be light enough, and you can add some lettuce or a tomato."

She nodded, as Stefan reappeared, "Okay."

My brother motioned to me, and I straightened, letting my hands loosen their grips.

"I'll be back soon," I told her, dropping a kiss to her shoulder, "Just eat slow and don't push it."

She glanced back at me, "I'll be fine."

"I know."

One more kiss and I released her, striding over to where Stefan waited.

"Let's go," I told him, and he nodded.

Yum Yum. ;)
Let me know whatcha thought!

Xoxoxo