Chapter 20

Damon was dragging the next day when he finally woke up. He frowned a little seeing Elena wasn't still in bed with him. There really was nothing better than waking up with her next to him. It was like everything was right in the world before the day got started. He was still exhausted from both the long night and emotional conversation he had with Elena the night before.

The very idea of her being upset with him for dragging Jeremy in and for not telling her, bugged him. He struggled so hard to do right by her. She meant everything to him. He never wanted to be the one to upset her. Of course, she wasn't so much upset as worried. He hadn't brought up anything about it because he didn't want her to figure out what he was planning. He still hadn't even decided that was the right plan to take. He'd do anything for her. He'd kill for in a second, but he was kind of scared. It wasn't like getting away with murder was easy. The idea of going to jail and what that would do to her was nagging at him.

Seeing Jeremy in the shape he was in made him feel even worse. He not only managed to upset Elena but her cousin, the only other person in her life she cares about. He was just so relieved that she was as understanding as she was. Not to mention observant, she seemed to already know where he was going before he even went there.

When she panicked the way, she did his fears were confirmed. It was to close, to close to what John did, and too big of a risk. In talking to her he realized she needed to be control of her own life. He can protect and he can back her up, be there for her, but he can't shield her from what's already happened to her.

She needed to know what was going on and she needed to be in control. As badly as he wanted to just get her out of this, he knew he couldn't. Not in that way he wanted to, but if the guy showed up here...if he touched her again…he wouldn't be able to control himself.

He knew that and he couldn't lie to her about it. She had made every moment of his life up to that point worth it when she told him she thought she loved him, that she was starting to figure out what love was. That's what he knew he could do for her; he could show her how she deserved to be treated. He could show her what love really is. The ways her eyes lit up with emotion when he let it slip out, made him realize it was okay for her to know. It was more than okay she needed to know she is loved.

He begrudgingly dragged himself up realizing it was past six, he hurried into the bathroom to shower and get ready. Slipping on some faded jeans and a black tee shirt. He raced down the stairs. He was surprised Elena hadn't woken him up and told him to get to work already.

A burning smell and the fire alarm started going off in the kitchen and he hurried inside to find Elena standing on a chair franticly waving a towel over the fire alarm. A pan of what looked to be garlic bread at one point sat burnt to a crisp on top of the stove.

"Need some help?" He chuckled reaching up to turn the button off.

"Damon!" She gasped.

"You okay?" He asked quickly stroking her hair to calm her she just smiled and nodded.

"Yeah but you walked in, in the middle of my surprise." She pouted.

"You were making me dinner?" He asked a warm rush going through his body.

"Attempting to." She said sheepishly. "I think the pasta is still okay."

He grabbed the pan off the stove before that burned too. It looked to be some type of hot dish with macaroni noodles. He scooped up two big plates, as she went to grab some milk from the fridge.

"Thank you, Elena, this is so sweet." He said gazing at her.

"You're welcome." She smiled.

"Take your time and enjoy it. The rooms are done." She added proudly.

"Done?" He asked his eyes wide.

"Yep, I got up a while ago and I couldn't fall back asleep so...all done." She smiled.

"Elena you should have woke me up…you didn't have to do all that." He said.

"I wanted to." She said. "You looked so peaceful; I couldn't wake you up."

"Still all the rooms? It's too much." He murmured.

"Hardly, I made the beds, cleaned and hung up the pictures and stuff." She shrugged. "Besides you are always doing stuff for me. I just really wanted to do something nice for you. I want you to know how much I appreciate you."

"Thank you, angel." He said his eyes full of adoration.

He didn't even realize it was possible to love her more then he already did.

She smiled widely and gestured to his plate. "So, dig in." She said sounding nervous.

"It looks great." He said popping a forkful unto his mouth, oh god, salt, he thought instantly. His mouth went dry with the taste of salt. How much did she use? He thought to himself. He could feel every instinct in him telling him to spit it out, but she was sitting across from him with her big hopeful doe eyes. He managed a smile and swallowed it down.

"Do you like it?" She asked eagerly.

"It's awesome angel, thank you." He lied she looked sort of doubtful, so he managed to force himself to take another bite.

"Really?" She said looking impressed with herself. She took a bite and her eyes widened in horror.

She spit it into a napkin and then looked up at him. "Stop eating it Damon! It's terrible."

"It's a little salty." He admitted sheepishly.

"Why did you keep eating it?" She asked.

"I just didn't want to hurt your feelings." He said reaching for her hand.

She frowned and stood up grabbing their plates and dumping them in the garbage.

"Hey, it's okay, just a little too much salt. Other than that, it was good." He said walking up behind her and putting his hands on her shoulders.

"You don't have to lie to spare my feelings. It was terrible. I just really wanted to pull this off, and then the garlic bread burned, and I dropped the salad on the floor. I thought the pasta survived at least. I did every stupid thing on Jenna's recipe and I still ruined it." Her voice was kind of shaky and it sounded like she was going to cry.

"Elena." He said softly. "I just love the fact that you took the time to do this for me. I don't care if it didn't turn out. I love you for trying. I know you hate cooking."

"I just really wanted to surprise you." She said turning around to face him her voice seemed calmer, but she was still flushed.

"You did." He said pulling her into a hug.

"In a good way." She murmured into his shoulder.

"You did all the rooms and then went through all the trouble to cook me dinner. I am surprised in a good way." He said. "You are so sweet, and you didn't need to do anything for me. Just being near you is all I need."

"You are so incredible." She said kissing him softly.

"You taste like salt." She giggled.

"Let's figure out what happened here shall we?" He asked picking up the piece of notebook paper from the counter with the recipe scribbled on it.

"What happened is I suck." She said. "I can't cook, end of story."

"Stop insulting my girlfriend." He said and she smiled and laughed a little.

"When you wrote a ½ cup of salt, are you sure that's what she said?" He asked.

"I think so." She said.

"I wonder if it was a ½ teaspoon of salt and you accidently wrote half cup because you wrote half cup of milk right above that." He showed her the recipe card and a realization crossed her face.

"Oops." She said sheepishly.

"No big deal it was a simple mistake. Let's just make it again." He said.

"Really?" She asked. "You're willing to eat anything I make again?"

"Yes. If you let me teach you a few things." He said waggling his eyebrows.

"Let's do it." She agreed with a little chuckle.

Damon turned out to be a great teacher. He walked her through the recipe with her and showed her some tricks on how to stir and stuff; she was having fun with it. She smiled to herself she had never cooked with a guy before. She still had a hard time getting used to how Damon always cooked for her. Dinners were bad before, they always led to her tears. But she was determined to do something unexpected just for Damon.

"It smells good." She smiled as she stirred and waited for it to get hot enough.

"See, told you anyone can cook." He kissed her head.

She tried a bite and closed her eyes it was amazing.

"It's so good now Damon." She said.

He tried some and nodded. "It's all you I just coached."

"Hey guys." Rick walked in and threw his keys down.

"This looks good." He grabbed a spoon from the table and grabbed a bite of the other pasta that was still sitting in the pan on the table.

"Wai..."Elena started.

"It is Elena made it. It's soo good." Damon said.

Rick shoved a rather large spoonful into his mouth and Elena grimaced as his face sort of puckered.

"See Rick likes it too, Elena. Don't you buddy?" Damon taunted.

Rick tried to force a smile his eyes and his eyes watered a little when he gulped it down. Giving her a sort of thumbs up. Elena was trying to glare at Damon, but Rick's red face as he forced himself to swallow was too funny and she burst out in laughter.

"Hey if I had to, he had to." Damon smirked.

"You said it wasn't that bad, just salty." Elena said crossing her arms.

"Now that we remade it. I figured we could joke...too soon?" He asked.

"Water." Rick gasped dramatically running to the fridge and grabbing a bottle of water. He started guzzling the water and then took a breath.

"It wasn't that bad. " Damon scoffed. "Always the drama queen."

"I think the salt might have settled in more as it sat." He said gulping down more water.

"I'm sorry." Elena winced.

"I'm not." Damon laughed.

"Okay can we eat the good stuff now?" Elena rolled her eyes.

"Oh no…you two are just evil." Rick shuddered walking out of the room.

"I'm ordering a pizza!" He called out.

"Now we know how to get rid of him." Damon winked.

She just burst out laughing again.

The boarding house was more buzzed with activity then Elena had ever seen on Friday morning. Damon was getting the staff all set up in the study. Elena had just finished one last walk through of the east wing. Damon had gotten up early to do the lawn, but Elena decided to check the grounds one last time. It was their selling point after all. She decided to dress up in a basic black dress with an a-line neck and pencil skirt. Damon had also worn a casual black suit. Even Rick was wearing kakis and a button up.

Elena was surprised to see Damon hired security guards she knew that was actually for her, and it made her feel even safer here. They were still waiting the PI Damon hired on confirmation that Craig was still in Chicago. The sooner he called the sooner Elena could relax.

Jenna finally called last night after she had drinks with Andie. She claims Andie was just spurned and kind of depressed over her job and other stuff right now and isn't out to cause any trouble. She said she was fairly sure Andie was over it, but Elena wasn't really sure. Damon definitely wasn't sure.

Elena ran into Jeremy as she stepped outside to check the gardens one last time. He was dressed up in a black suit as well. She studied him carefully.

"This might be too much black." She murmured. "It's too dreary..."

"Hi Elena." He waved his hand.

"Sorry, I think I found my calling. Did you see the rooms?" She asked.

"I did, I did a run through early this morning they look awesome. Damon said you picked out most of it." Jeremy said.

"I guess I did." She murmured.

"You did great E." He said.

"Thanks." She smiled, a lump in her throat. She had never really done something like this before. It felt really good she felt so capable.

"I'm really sorry I freaked you out the other night." He said.

"Its fine, just don't do it again." She said.

"We should talk."

"Not now, not today, but as you can see Damon and I are taking some precautions." She said.

"I saw the security guards." He nodded.

"So everything else we'll figure out." She said.

"You will let me know whatever you decide on, right?" He asked.

"I just want you to have a fun summer at home with your friends." Elena said. "It's bad enough you're working here to try and watch out for me. Whatever I come up with I'm going to try not to involve you to heavily in it this time."

"So what, since Damon's here you don't need my help?"

"It's not about Damon. I've been trying to keep you out of this for years." Elena said.

"I know but I'm family. I'm not going away I'm going to help you."

"I don't want you to go away. I want you to be part of my life. I just don't want to involve you in the mess of my past." She said quietly. She started walking and he walked with her.

"I'm involved it's too late." He said.

"Jer; I'm trying to protect you." Elena sighed.

"I'm not the one who needs to be protected." He hissed.

"Jeremy look I don't know what I'm even going to do yet, but if there is a way you can help me of course I'm going to let you know okay? Right now, I just need you to live your life." Elena said a familiar feeling of exasperation coming over her.

"Now get inside, those woman are going to be here any second." She said.

He smoothed down his hair and flashed a charming smile. "How's this?"

"Don't try to be charming just be all cute and innocent looking like you are. They will eat that up." Elena said.

He frowned and crinkled his eyebrow before turning to leave.

She walked over to the rose garden and her eyes widened when she noticed a brand-new wooden bench was sitting by her favorite spot. It was a beautiful cherry red oak and looked like it was hand crafted. When he had time to do these things she would just never know. She felt tears of happiness come to her eyes she sat down and smiled through her tears.

"Your son is pretty incredible." She said to the little circle of roses.

"I can wreck dinner and he just says it's okay and helps me fix it. I can even be kind of bossy and stubborn sometimes and he thinks it's cute. He does things for me just to make me smile or make my life easier. He doesn't get mad at me for speaking my mind, he respects me for it. We kind of have a way of being able to talk to each other openly about anything. We get each other like that. He seems to know exactly what to say or do when I'm upset, and I just feel better. I want so bad to make him happy that sometimes it even hurts. When he smiles because of something I said or did it's like my whole heart jumps you know? "

"It's love." She sat up straighter she could swear the roses almost seemed brighter. "I love Damon."

"I'm going to make him happy." She promised. "He is my future. I mean I hope he is. He loves me too so he could be, but not until...

I have to end my marriage and I have to find a way to stop running. If I have to take the stand over and over I will. I have Damon to fight for and love is always worth it."

The boarding house officially closed for vacancies at ten now, but the guests had keys and could come and go whenever. The security guards were there twenty four seven and cleared everyone that entered the estate. Elena really liked the new precautions Damon had taken. The guests seemed impressed with it too, so it worked out great.

Elena, Damon, Rick and Jeremy met up with Jenna and Caroline at the Grill afterwards to celebrate. Elena was kind of hoping for a chance to be with Damon alone so she could tell him how she felt about him. How she really felt not how she thought she felt. But everyone was pumped to go out and she and Damon hadn't really been doing that much lately. So she decided to just have fun for the night and tell him later. She basically already told him, but now that she knew for sure she was all nervous about it.

Damon put his arm around her, and she hugged his stomach as they walked into the bar. Caroline led them all over to a booth.

"I'll get the first round." Damon announced looking happy.

"So, it went well." Jenna asked?

"So well; Melinda, Will's wife loves everything about the backwoods appeal, the old fashioned town all of it. She wants to invite a friend of hers down who reviews motels for the Times." Damon said.

"That's awesome." Jenna exclaimed. "The Times?"

"She was so impressed with how much of a real retreat it was. They loved the privacy too." Elena added with a grin.

"The kitchen was a debate. Melinda loved it she loved your food and the choice that she can order, or if she feels like frying eggs at three am, she can do that too." He said. "That's the point to feel at home and she totally got that. The other girl prefers room service, but hopefully the food changed her mind."

"Now we just hope her husband does, too right?" Rick asked.

"If she likes it, he writes the check." Damon said.

"Rick are you listening this to this?" Jenna said. "Pay attention."

"You too Matt." Caroline said grabbing his hand he walked over just in time to catch the end of the conversation.

"He just says this stuff to make us look bad, ignore him." Rick rolled his eyes.

"No, it's true." Damon said. "Melinda has a really good sense of what's new and different, which is the mark Will wants to leave. He trusts her opinion more than anyone's. She's never been wrong."

Elena smiled a little, she wondered if she could be like that for Damon. His partner, she kind of was with the boarding house. She felt just as proud as he did when they gave the ladies the tour together.

"They ordered a lot of food." Matt said holing a long receipt. "I don't know if that's good or bad."

"Look at the total and decide," Caroline laughed.

"The Walsh's knows all kinds of people. I wouldn't be surprised if her friend is a food reviewer or something." Damon said.

"Wow." Matt said. "I was worried you'd turn it into a frat house."

"That guy wasn't me." Damon said. "I wasn't in a good place when I got here."

"Hey bygones man, when you're making me this kind of money in one day." Matt smiled looking at the receipt again.

"I found them at the rose garden this afternoon. They loved it there." Jenna said. "Everyone does."

"It's a really special place." Elena said a secret smile inside.

"Look Jeremy; Vicky just got here." Caroline said loudly gesturing to the door. Vicky looked over and glared at her, then smiled at Jeremy.

"I see that." He muttered blushing a little.

"Go talk to her what are you waiting for?" Damon prodded him

He looked a little flushed but got up and walked over to her they headed over to the bar together.

Elena watched them for a minute Vicky smiled at him and his body relaxed he looked happy. Vicky threw her head back and laughed at something Jeremy said and his body shook with laughter.

She smiled and glanced over at Damon who squeezed her hand under the table. He was engrossed in a conversation about cars, with Rick and Matt.

She listened for a minute and turned to glance over at Jenna and Caroline who were going over every food critic they've heard of, wondering if they could be this weekends guest.

She sat back taking it all in. Like a a series of snap shots in her mind.

This is my life, my friends, my family, and the man I love; she thought with a lump in her throat, this is home.