A Lot of Love A lot of Blood Chapter 37 A

Title: A Lot of Love A lot of Blood

Rating: Mature

Pairing: Elena/Stefan Damon/Bonnie

SDTRK:

Disclaimer: Holy cow can't believe I haven't done this before. I do not own Vampire Diaries; they are property of LJ Smith and the CW.

A/N: Thanks again to everyone whose hanging in there with me and this story! The support means the world and helps me keep the writing momentum flowing.

DEBBIE DOWNERS

"Hey we're going to get out of here," Stefan said feeling awkward as he broke up the heated starring contest Damon seemed to be having with Bonnie.

"Why? We just got here?" Damon asked clearing his head enough to focus in on his brother.

"We just feel like.. Interlopers," He coughed out making him smirk.

" Well we wouldn't want that, run along with your little blonde, and go do that couples brooding you do so well."

"We don't brood!" he protested.

"Funny that you didn't deny the couple part."

"We're a couple of people that get together yes."

"Is that really how you feel little brother?" He asked arching an eyebrow.

"How else would I feel?" he asked as Damon shook his head.

"Go," He retorted waving him away with his hand.

"Is he that averse to having some fun?"

"I think my little brother is having trouble controlling his… urges."

"I thought he was okay with drinking human blood now." She said becoming tense as her brow furrowed with worry.

"Those aren't the urges I'm referring to." He said wagging his eyebrows as her eyes filled with understanding and her laughter burst from her lips chiming like bells.

"He's horny!"

"Well it has been a while, and I think Forbes is proving to be quite the temptation.

"Caroline? No way, he only has eyes for Elena."

"Hmmm, enough about them, let's concentrate on us," He said making her squeal as he spun her into his arms and lead her out to the dance floor.

"What's wrong?" Caroline asked frowning as they quickly made their way from the club.

"Just Damon being his usual self," he said waving aside her concern as he studied her out of the corner of his eyes.

He knew Caroline was beautiful, you'd have to be blind not to; but it was what was hidden inside her that drew him like a moth to a flame. Her wit and free spirited attitude despite everything that was happening kept him going when he felt like lying down and waiting for the sun ring less. It wasn't that he was suicidal or turning emo, he was tired of losing the things he cared for most. She'd been there for him when he needed her most, and it wasn't something he'd be forgetting. Friends like that needed to be cherished and kept.

Yet, he couldn't say this felt like what he had with Lexi, though she reminded him of her. Was Damon right about his interest? No, he loved Elena. He wouldn't even allow himself to think such treacherous thoughts.

"You have your worry expression on, what's up?"

"Just worried about Elena," He said telling a partial truth.

"I'm sorry Stefan, I know this cant' be easy on you. I wish I could offer up words of wisdom and tell you she'll come to her senses soon, but these days I'm not sure of much anymore," She admitted softly.

"Look at us, we're supposed to be celebrating," Stefan said sighing as he shook his head.

"We're a pair of Debbie Downers aren't we?" She asked laughing lightly.

"Looks like?" He agreed dryly as they made their way outside of the club and into the night.

"We can still celebrate, just somewhere a little more .."

"Subdued?" He suggested

"Exactly."

" The Grille?"

"Sounds great." She said taking her arm in his.

The Grille

"Thanks for coming with me to pick up the food Jer," Elena said as he feel instep beside her as they exited the car.

"No problem, I was happy for a break from the uh.. love fest Jenna and Rick have going on, I mean I'm happy she found a good guy, but seeing it up close and personal is a bit much at times."

"I'd have to agree with you 100 percent there." She said wincing as she thought about her run in with a half naked Alaric in the hallway with Jenna.

His offering of chunky monkey had turned her of the ice cream for a while if not ever.

"Jer do you think I'm doing the wrong thing laying low?"

"I think what's good for each person is different, and if you truly think this is the best way for you to deal with everything you're probably right; but you have to realize that standing up for what you believe in sometimes means you'll stand alone."

"Is that some sort of warning?" She asked feeling her temper boiling.

"No, not at all," he said shaking his head. "It's like what I felt for Anna, I knew no one would agree with it or understand it, but it was right for me. She healed things in me that were broken and in my mind past repair. So despite everything that ended up happened, I would never change a thing."

"Wow Jer, when did you get so deep?"

"I'm not sure," he said honestly laughing as he flashed a smile.

"Thanks for that, it's exactly what I needed to hear," She said leaning over to give him a quick hug before they continued inside.

Following him to the take out sign she narrowed her eyes as she focused in on a flaxen haired girl.

"What was Caroline doing here?" Moving around the post blocking her view she gasped at the identity of the dark haired man beside her.

Stefan! What was he doing here with Caroline.. smiling ..and laughing! She had rarely seen him laugh, and even then she wasn't sure if it had been like this.

He looked young and carefree, like a teenager was supposed to look. Was this what pining looked like? Cause she hadn't smiled in weeks and she sure as hell wasn't out on the town for dinner with anyone.

"This is Caroline, her personality is contagious." She reasoned.

She'd been on the receiving end of her sunshine a million times. With a few carefully spoken words and care free smile she could make all your problems disappear at least for those few moments. Could she really begrudge him that? Holding her breath when Caroline leaned into to touch his hand with her own she felt a nagging doubt creep up once more. Was it as harmless as it seemed? Didn't all love start with friendship? One look that turned into something more, a like that grew, crept up on you when you weren't looking?

"Hey, you okay?" Jeremy asked walking up beside her.

Nodding she placed a hand on her nervously as he followed her line of view.

Shaking her head no when he went to open her mouth she put a finger to her lips asking him not to speak as she hurried outside with him following suite, bag of food in hand.

"Why don't you go say hi?" He asked once they reached the car.

"You know why , besides he seems to be doing just fine," She said as her voice softened slightly.

"Elena, they're friends." He assured her.

"Maybe, but even if they weren't what right do I have to say a word? I just left him out to dry Jer, what kind of love do I have for him when I could give him up so easily?"

"That's not a fair question Elena, you have a psycho watching your every move and threatening everyone you love."

"If it was you and Anna would you have stayed away?" She whispered turning to face him after she started the car.

"Elena, I told you earlier everyone is different."

"Please Jer, just be honest."

"No I wouldn't have; but I'm a selfish bastard Elena, and I'm okay with that, because in my eyes life is too short not to hold onto happiness."

"You loved her that much."

"I don't know how to love a little Elena, when I fall it's this all consuming thing, I think about them all the time, I want to see to their happiness, and I want to spend as much time with them as possible because I never know how long I have. We've both seen how quickly life can be taken away time and time again; it's left its mark on me." He said shrugging as she nodded carefully considering his words as she put the car in to drive and pulled out of the parking lot.

She had some serious thinking to do. Maybe it was time to stop letting life just happen and start making some tough choices.

A/n: I know it's a bit short, but I need a little more time to tweek the Bamon scene I am hard at work on. I didn't want to make you guys wait for an update while I try to get it just right so I went ahead and posted. I hope you enjoyed.