AN: Start during 1.20, but Stefan is still in the cellar when Damon tells Elena whole story.

I don't owe any of Vampire Diaries characters or song lyrics which I will use in future chapters.

I want to thank: XThe-Voodoo-PriestessX for editing this chapter

Elena sat down, trying to process everything that she had just heard.

It was Stefan who turned first; Stefan who forced Damon to drink human blood… it was Stefan who killed his father.

She glanced at Damon, who poured himself another glass of Scotch and sat down beside her. He stared at his fingers, slowly rotating the glass. Despite the fact that he didn't see her face, he knew what kind of emotions were on it.

Suddenly he felt her warm fingers on his neck. He didn't have the slightest desire to do or say anything. She was moving them up and down, probably trying to comfort him. After a while her hand was in his hair; he was unable to even budge. If only he had enough strength to tell her to stop. Her touch didn't bring him relief; it only sparked the heat of hope in his heart… the same heart which had been dead for 145 years. He closed his eyes and bliss began to paint the features on his face.

Thank God that she couldn't see that.

"I'll go to see if he's started to eat." Elena got up from her place with Damon and went down into the basement to check on Stefan.

Every time she saw him broken like that, all she wanted to hold him tight and never let go. As she descended further into the basement, Elena started to feel the cold nipping at her soft skin. Her brown eyes soon adapted to the semi-darkness. Stefan was lying on his bunk with his back to her, an untouched bottle of blood on the ground beside him.

"If you don't drink it, you'll never get through this. Please Stefan, do it for me," she begged, "I love you, and you're not even able to drink one bottle of blood for me…" She had hoped that a little emotional blackmail would convince him, but he didn't even look at her.

She looked through the bars for a moment. Upstairs Damon was waiting for her; he also needed her. He lay stretched out on the couch and heavily drank the alcohol straight from the bottle instead from a pouring himself a glass. Elena approached him, slowly tracing her finger on the palm of Damon's hand that was holding the bottle, and gingerly took it from him. She put it on the floor, out of his range. His icy eyes never left her, but he didn't protest.

She hesitated only for a moment before she sat by his side. Their bodies fit perfectly together, Elena realized. Their faces were mere millimeters apart. She wasn't able to stare at his sad blue eyes without feeling the urge to look away. She nestled her face in his chest, placing her arms around his waist. She, like Damon, also needed some comfort. This whole thing with Stefan was breaking her heart. She had never felt so… powerless.

Suddenly she felt a large, strong hand on a bare piece of her back. She felt butterflies in her abdomen and closed her eyes with all her strength, trying hard to ignore his thumb doing small circles on her back. Before she knew it, her body was totally relaxed. His composed breath, the smell of his body and arms which didn't allow her to move away even an inch had a tranquilizing effect on her.

Damon's eyes were set aside lightly. He was still being crushed by a sleeping Elena. For the first time in a few of days, she was so calm, her face was completely relaxed. He moved his hand gently up and down her back, in rhythm with every breath he took. Her wonderful, human warmth was spreading all over his body. Her fingers began to move slowly down his stomach, awakening his lust. Damon concentrated, using all of his strength and years of practice, trying to avoid Elena waking up with his erection pressed into her abdomen. For the first few minutes it went well, but then her leg weaved even stronger between his and it was becoming impossible.

"Elena, sweetheart," he said quietly, trying to wake her gently. He heard the quiet murmur of discontent. He felt her stick her chin against his chest and opened her beautiful chocolate eyes, looking dreamily at him.

"It was nice to spend the night together," he smiled seductively; licking his lips gently, surprisingly the only thing that he encountered was her smile, no comments or eye rolling. She was probably still unconscious. "I think you're a little late for school." He felt like her whole body go stiff, and suddenly she sprang to her feet.

"What time is it?" she looked at him pleading as it could help.

"Around about nine." he said quietly as possible in a peaceful tone. Damon didn't want her to land her frustration on him.

"Damn, my first lesson just started," Elena said in an even voice, which surprised her. She wasn't so much as slightly angry. On the contrary, the only thing she wanted to do was to smile. She snorted, no longer being able to maintain corners of her mouth in one place.

"Are you content with skipping your classes? I have a few ideas about how we can spend those few hours." He wasn't able to stop the lecherous smile and the 'eye' thing he was so fond of doing. Elena slapped him lightly on the shoulder, feigning disapproval. He traced his finger down to her collar bone suggestively, not taking his eyes off her. She closed her eyelids slightly and nervously sucked air back into her lungs. Damon was able to smell how much his delicate touch stimulated her.

"Make me breakfast," She cut him off abruptly. "I'll go take a quick shower." Before Damon could do anything else, Elena disappeared up the stairs.

He was going to prepare her something anyway, but he liked how easily she commanded him. During the business in the kitchen, Damon's imagination was galloping like crazy around other situations in which she could possibly dominate. He smiled to himself, and decided to check up on Stefan, considering the fact that Elena was still in the shower. Damon saw his younger brother sitting against the wall, his head bowed deeply.

"Could you please stop feel sorry for yourself? Do you think she can stand it much longer?" Damon found himself getting riled up at Stefan, and slowly took a deep breath trying to calm down. Stefan finally turned his head in his older brother's direction.

"Could you let me off, just a little? And please bring me some blood. True blood?" Stefan suggested after a moment, his eyes wide and pleading.

Damon shook his head in disbelief. He wasn't able to understand how you can torture yourself like that and in turn hurt the person you have the nerve to claim you love! He was so pissed at him that if not for the door opening upstairs he would've ripped his brother's throat out. Instead, he clenched his jaw and swallowed his annoyance, returning to the kitchen. Elena fled downstairs in a hurry and fell on him with all her force.

"Calm down. You should just ask and I would take you in my arms," he smiled cockily.

"I'll be late for next lesson if we don't hurry. Mr. Saltzman is giving us a test and my knowledge is far from perfect, so the last thing I need is a verbal game with you."

She seemed really annoyed. With vampire speed he took a jacket, grabbed the car keys and stood before her holding the bag with her breakfast. He nodded toward the door and a moment later drove to school. Once parked, Elena looked at her watch.

"We are ahead of time, don't panic," Damon reassured her.

He got out and opened door in front of her. He didn't know why, it was just an impulse. A smile of surprise was painted on her face. He closed it behind her and leaned against the car.

"Maybe I should have a short chat with Ric to take it easy on you today?" he suggested.

Alaric was sitting on his desk, staring wildly out the window. Suddenly, something attracted his attention. He saw Elena talking to Damon… if it really could be called a conversation. He saw the smiles depict on their faces, her momentary embarrassment and if he was closer, he would notice the flush on her face. The older Salvatore didn't take his eyes off of her. But what he did see at that moment exceeded all boundaries. Elena leaned up to him kiss him on the cheek and then quickly ran off to school. Damon seemed as surprised as Alaric was. He stood motionless for a while and then gently touched the place where not so long ago were Elena's lips were. He smiled to himself, got in the car and drove off.

Elena had no idea why she did it. It was like she had no control over her body. She quickly touched the place where her necklace – a gift from Stefan - filled with vervain always rested. It was still there.

Really, it was nothing. Elena repeated in her head, trying to convince herself. Just a friendly kiss on the cheek. Acknowledgements, if you will.

Miraculously the history test went pretty well, out of pure luck Elena believed. She was about to leave classroom when she heard Mr Saltzman's voice.

"Elena, could you stay for a minute?"

She sat tentatively in the front row, waiting until everyone exited out of the classroom. Alaric walked to the door, slowly closing it from prying eyes. He sat on the bench beside her, and Elena frowned as she realized something about his expression began to bother her.

"I know that I have no right to carry out this conversation with you, but it is very important," he looked at her, was clearly worried. "You have to be cautious around Damon."

"He wouldn't hurt me," Elena replied firmly, coldly.

"Elena, I saw what happened today in the parking lot. You kissed him." He tried hard not to sound accusing, but this wasn't an easy task.

"It was just a friendly peck, it meant nothing. I thanked him for the ride and for breakfast." Elena bit her lip, feeling that she had said too much.

"You have to be more prudent. You shouldn't give him false hope. I used to think that he was just a monster. Now, I guess slowly I'm changing my mind. But I don't trust him… not yet anyway. If you hurt him, the monster which I still remember could come back. Be careful, because you tread on thin ice Elena."

"You're right, you have no right to talk about this with me." Elena spoke finally, running from the classroom before he could say anything else

What the hell is wrong with me? Why I jump down his throat like that? She knew that she shouldn't be offended by his comments; in fact she knew she should be grateful for it. But something inside her, the same thing that pushed her to kiss Damon again made her lose her control. Refusing to be consumed by remorse, she carried on with school and her usual routine.

XXX

Damon returned home, without ceasing to smile. He had no idea why the innocent touch of her lips affected him so, but he loved this feeling.

Love...

No. That can't be it. It just can't.

The more he repeated this to himself the more he was beginning to become aware of his true feelings… feelings that terrified him.