Since I got so many nice reviews, I thought I would update twice this week! You guys, we have two more chapters after this one and then that's the end of season 1! Crazy right?

A lot of you agree that Damon needs to realize that Alex can make her own decisions about her life and that regardless of what he does, she is going to be in danger. Alex is a bit of a danger magnet! I think you all will like this chapter because things with Damon and Alex are better, and also we get a conversation between Alex and Lauren!

Hope you guys enjoy! Don't forget to review!

Season 1 Episode 20 Blood Brothers

My eyes fluttered open when the sun seeped into the room and fell across my vision. It was so bright, that I couldn't open them fully unless I wanted to be blinded. I groaned, rolling away from the harsh light and turned my back to the window. The sheets were soft and the blanket was warm. It was like I was surrounded in a warm hug. It smelled good… where had I smelled this scent before? Either way it was warm and it smelled nice. I never wanted to leave the comfort of this bed.

But then I realized it wasn't my own bed.

My eyes shot open when I recognized the scent. I jumped knocking myself out of the bed and onto the floor. The cold wood of the floor was a striking contrast to the bed I had woken up in. Taking in my surroundings with wide eyes I was able to figure out whos room I had slept in last night. I blinked the sleep from my eyes and gazed about the bed room. He wasn't in here, which I was grateful for. My awakening from sleep was much less then graceful and I most likely had bed head.

I wasn't in my dress anymore. I was dressed in a long T shirt that just barely brushed just the top of my knees. It was soft and very comfortable, but I knew who's shirt it was. It made me shiver a bit at the idea of how I got into said shirt. I wasn't sure if it was a good shiver or a bad one.

I went to the door, turning the handle carefully and then padded out into the hallway. The cool floors were freezing my feet, but I continued on. I knew what this looked like. I was half dressed in a man's house, waking up in his bed and now I was roaming around his house. It looked scandalous to say the least. I felt my face heat up in a blush. I went to the stairs and made my way down them, hoping to find someone. I could smell food the further I got downstairs which made my stomach growl. I headed toward the kitchen.

To my surprise, Damon stood at the stove, cooking some sizzling bacon and some eggs. I felt my mouth water, from the food and also from the view of Damon cooking breakfast, a tight t-shirt on and a rag thrown over his shoulder. I wouldn't mind waking up to this every morning.

"Morning sleepy head." He said once I entered the room. I eyed him. "I was wondering when you would finally grace us with your presence."

He didn't turn around, which I was slightly glad for because the way my eyes raked up his back, stopping at his butt, it was pretty embarrassing.

"You cook?" I asked him. He chuckled finally turning around to look at me. I looked up to meet his gaze, seeing the coy smile on his lips.

"I'm Italian." He said. "Of course I cook."

I hesitated before taking a seat at the island in the kitchen. They had a nice kitchen that was stocked full of fine china. If I was a better cook I would have loved to be in here. Damon turned and placed a plate in front of me. I had to remind myself of my manners so I didn't just dig in.

"What happened last night?" I asked him, picking up a strip of bacon carefully. Damon turned off the stove and threw some things into the sink.

"Stefan bit you." He said nonchalantly. I remembered that. I had been trying to get away then he bit me and I blacked out. I remembered Amber and how he had compelled her. I remembered the pain when his fangs sunk into my neck.

"But I don't have a mark." I said pulling at the collar of the shirt. There was no evidence of him biting me at all. I didn't feel a thing. In fact, I felt pretty good.

"I fed you my blood." He said. My eyes widened. "It should be out of your system by now."

I nodded. I did feel great, not like the last time I was bit by a vampire and it took forever to heal. I wondered if I would always have the scar. I chewed slowly and I could feel Damon watching me. It made me uncomfortable.

"What happened to Amber?" I asked, hoping that Stefan hadn't killed her. She seemed so sweet, and it bothered me that she never got to the pageant. I thought she deserved to win.

"She's fine." Damon answered. "She doesn't remember anything."

I nodded again. Then I remembered that Damon wasn't the only one who lived her. Stefan lived here too. I felt myself tense at the thought and wondered where he was.

"Is he…" I began but trailed off. Damon sighed.

"We have him locked in the basement." Damon said. "Hopefully all the human blood will be out of his system soon."

I nodded again.

"You keep nodding like that you'll break your neck." He said. I was about to nod but shrugged instead. We then fell silent and I continued to eat. He was a pretty good cook, although I didn't think anyone could mess up bacon and eggs.

"He won't talk to me." I heard Elena's voice enter the kitchen. "Oh, good you're up."

"What's going on?" I asked. "Is he ok?"

"He's… struggling." Elena said. "He will be fine though."

"Hopefully." Damon replied, earning a glare from Elena. Elena then disappeared into the living room. She came back with some clothes.

"I packed some stuff." Elena said. "Thought it would be better than Damon's T shirts."

"Hey, my shirts are fine quality." He said, making Elena scoff while rolling her eyes.

I swallowed and took the clothes she handed me. I then pushed myself off the stool and moved to go change. I would be much more comfortable when I had some pants on. Damon eyed me, looking at my legs and then smirking when he met my gaze. I blushed and went back up to his room. If he kept looking at me like that… I wasn't sure what I would do. I went into his room, shutting the door behind me. I then pulled off the shirt, folding it neatly onto his bed. I grabbed the clothes Elena had let me borrow. We were about the same size, so it wasn't that hard to fit into them. She had brought me jeans and a long sleeved black shirt. I appreciated that she kept to my style. It made me smile.

"I personally like my shirt better."

I jumped and turned to Damon who stood at the door. I hadn't even heard him come inside or open the door. When the shock of his intrusion had passed, I let out an irritated breath. This whole sneaking up on me thing was getting old.

"Ever heard of knocking?" I asked him, adding some extra snark to my voice.

"It's my bedroom." He said. "I don't need to knock."

I huffed and tried to leave but he stopped me. He stared me in the eye, his hand not releasing its grip on my arm.

"Are you ok?" He asked me seriously. My first reaction to this question was to get irritated. I had told him not to worry about me, but apparently he wasn't going to stop. My second reaction was to the fact that because he was worried about me, that meant that he still cared. That lead to my third reaction being outright joy.

"I thought I told you to stop asking me that." I replied. He narrowed his eyes. "I'm fine."

He pushed his lips into a straight line. I knew he didn't believe me, and frankly I didn't believe myself. I had been attacked by my friend, someone I trusted, and just before that I had been informed by my absentee father that he tried to be a good man. My mom, may have lied to me when she told me that John left and he never looked back. However, I had to take John's word with a grain of salt. I couldn't be sure what was true until I talked to mom. Regardless, I was definitely not fine.

"Thank you." I said suddenly. Damon furrowed his brows. "For… saving me….Again."

"I should have been there sooner." He replied. I stepped forward, unable to stop myself. I stood only inches from him and stared him in the eye.

"If you hadn't found me, I could be dead right now." I told him. He said nothing, just stared at me for a long while. We were quiet for several minutes, just staring at one another. It occurred to me then that I probably didn't look all that great considering I woke up only about 15 minutes earlier. I awkwardly ran a hand through my tangled mess of hair to attempt to straighten it out. It didn't work. With a sigh, he reached forward and gently undid the knot in my hair. I tried not to let my heartbeat become erratic at the closeness of him, but I was unsuccessful.

"Are you going to school?" He asked. I shook my head. I wasn't in the mood to deal with people or teachers. I had too much on my mind. But then again, I didn't want to go home. Mom could come home at any time, and I didn't want to see her either. Not yet at least. I then walked past him and out into the hallway. I could hear him following behind me, and it gave me an odd sense of security that he was there. I walked back into the living room and saw Elena grabbing some stuff.

"Where are you going?" I asked her. She looked up.

"I'm going to go get some clothes." Elena answered, looking between Damon and I. "I'll be back."

I nodded and watched her turn to leave, but not before giving a narrowed eyed glance at Damon. She slammed the door behind her. I knitted my eyebrows together.

"She doesn't trust me around you." Damon said. I turned and he was sitting on the couch. I let out a scoff.

"And yet she trusted Stefan around me." I said bitterly. I then looked to the door that led to the basement. I remembered Damon being there, how he got out and attacked me. I felt a shiver go up my spine as I imagined it being Stefan who attacked and not Damon.

"He can't get out." I said and pointed to the door. "Can he?"

Damon eyed me for a second before he patted the seat next to him. I obeyed, but I sat a cushion over, keeping my distance. He seemed to notice and a flash of disappointment showed in his eyes.

"He can't get out." He assured me. I nodded. "You're afraid of him."

I looked up to him with wide eyes. I shook my head no, but he saw right through it. He gave me a look and I sighed.

"Maybe a little." I said with a shrug. "I expect this behavior from you. But not from Stefan."

"Ouch." Damon said with a wince. I shrugged again. Maybe if I hurt him then he would leave me alone. For someone who wanted me to stay away, he really stuck around me a lot.

"Are you going to talk to your mom?" He asked me. I shrugged again.

"No. Yes… maybe." I replied. "But… John has to be lying."

"Could be." Damon said. "Or he's telling the truth."

"Whose side are you on?" I asked him accusingly. He held up his hands in surrender.

"Mine." He replied, which was followed by a long sigh. "You need to talk to your mom."

I crossed my legs and huffed. I probably looked like a spoiled child, but I didn't care. I wanted to know the truth. I wanted to hear her tell me that he is lying and none of what he said was true. I just didn't know if that would be the answer I would get. The thought scared me to my core.

Damon then stood up and went to the kitchen, catching my attention. After a few moments, he emerged with a bottle of red liquid and was headed for the basement. I furrowed my brows.

"What is that?" I asked him. He looked at the bottle and then back to me.

"Bunny rabbit." He replied with a sinister smile. I shivered and watched as he took it down to the basement. I stood then, looking at the paintings on the walls. I could come here a million times and never get used to how beautiful this house was. I could fit my own home in it three times.

Damon returned without the bottle of rabbit blood.

"Did he drink it?" I asked curiously.

"Nope." He said. "He's still upset that he almost killed you and Amber Bradley."

I swallowed. He should feel bad. I almost died. But then again, I could understand not being able to give up your drug. Damon was mine, and I couldn't seem to stay away.

"If he doesn't drink…" I began. Damon looked up at me. "Will he… die?"

"Not exactly." He said. "The longer a vampire goes without blood they start to desiccate."

"Desiccate?" I asked. He nodded.

"When a vampire doesn't drink its body has to feed on itself." He said. "So, the skin dries out and you become weak. I've heard it's really painful."

"And then what?" I asked. "You just become a living corpse?"

"Essentially." He replied. "That's what happened to the tomb vampires."

I nodded. That sounded awful, very painful. I remembered Frederick saying that it drove him a little insane. But we couldn't force Stefan to eat. I guess we technically could, but Elena would want him to do it himself.

"What did you tell my mom?" I asked, assuming he put up a cover for me, he always seemed to be on top of my cover stories.

"Told her you were at Elena's." He said. It was a generic answer, and I knew mom wouldn't check with Jenna to see if I was there. I had a bit of time before I had to go talk to her.

"I hate lying to her." I told him, pulling my knees up to my chest. I hated the lies and the secrets. We used to be so close.

"That's what you get when you run with vampires." Damon said. "Secrets and lies."

"Well, I hate it." I replied bitterly. We fell silent then, and I couldn't help myself when I looked over at him. He was still so beautiful. He would be eternally beautiful, and I didn't think that was fair. I wondered if he was always that handsome or if being a vampire enhanced your looks like it did your senses.

"I could always make you forget." He said, staring at the wall. I knitted my eyebrows. "I could take all the lies away."

My lips parted and he looked over at me. He searched my face, his eyes cascading over every part of my expression. Why was he suggesting this? To help me? Or to help himself? Either way, I was in this too far to let it all go.

"No." I said. "I don't want to forget."

Damon locked gazes with me and nodded slightly. He then started to lean forward, and out of habit I guess I did too. Suddenly, Damon's phone started to ring. He closed his eyes angrily before he picked it up.

"Hello?" He asked. I couldn't hear the other end of the conversation, but Damon seemed surprised at who had called him. He continued to talk, and I tried to understand what was happening. I wasn't having much luck.

"Isobel's in Grove Hill?" Damon suddenly said. I let my jaw drop. Isobel? As in Elena's mother? Grove Hill was just outside of Mystic Falls. What was she doing so close?

"You drive." Damon said. "Pick me up in an hour."

He then shut off the phone and started to move around the house. I watched him.

"Where are we going?" I asked. He chuckled.

"We are not going anywhere." Damon said. "I am going with Alaric to check a lead."

"Alaric?" I asked. "When did you two become best friends?"

"Silly Alex." He said. "I don't have any friends."

"Ouch." I muttered.

"Nostalgia's a bitch huh?" He said and walked out of the room. I took a deep breath and plopped down on the couch.

Elena returned not too long afterward. She went to the basement as soon as she dropped off her stuff. I stayed where I was, reading a book I had found. It was very action packed and kept my mind off of any lingering feelings for Damon who was readying himself for his trip.

"He won't eat." Elena said. "He said he wants this all to be done."

I looked up from my book, dog earing the page. She plopped down in a chair near me. She looked very frantic and nervous.

"So what he's starving himself?" I asked her. I immediately thought about what Damon said and how it would be for Stefan's body to desiccate. I didn't tell Elena though, it would only make her worry more.

"He's just being dramatic." Damon said, pulling on his jacket. "He's not gonna starve himself."

"Why would he say that?" Elena asked. Stefan wanted to die, and Elena just couldn't get it.

"He feels bad for hurting that girl, and especially for hurting Alex." Damon said. I shivered. "It's a very typical Stefan martyr stuff. It will pass."

There was a beat of silence before Elena's arm reached out for my hand. I jumped at the sudden contact.

"You have to talk to him." Elena said urgently.

"What?" I asked cocking an eyebrow.

"You need to tell him that you aren't upset and that everything is ok." Elena urged. I shook my head.

"I can't." I replied after a brief pause.

"Why not?" Elena asked.

"Because everything is not ok." I said. "I am upset."

"But Alex-"

"He almost killed me Elena." I said. "I can't just let that go."

"He's going to die if you don't talk to him." Elena said with firey eyes. I let out a deep breath.

"I'm sorry." I said. "But I can't."

Elena seemed to not understand and her eyes narrowed at me. I knew why she wanted me to do it. She loved him, and she would do anything to get him to eat, even throw me into the lions den.

"Damon almost killed you plenty of times." She said, becoming angrier. "And you're practically in love with him."

I didn't speak again. I began to glare at her, while she was glaring at me. After our little encounter I stood up. I grabbed my book and turned to go upstairs. I didn't look at Damon as I passed by. I just stomped up the stairs. I could understand why she was upset. I would probably do the same thing if I were in her situation. I just couldn't bring myself to go down there and talk to him. Not after what he did.

I went to Damon's room and slammed the door behind me. I paced angrily around the room, debating on throwing something just to get the anger out. I voted against it, feeling as though Damon wouldn't appreciate me breaking stuff.

I huffed and fell down onto his bed. I tried to read, but the book held no more interest to me. I no longer cared about how the hero would save the girl from the treacherous monster. I closed it, tossing it to the floor. I sat there on his bed, holding my head. I could feel a headache coming on.

Damon was right. I was afraid. I was afraid of Stefan after what he had done. I was afraid to hear the truth from my mother. And I was afraid that I was falling for Damon regardless of everything I had tried to do to stop it.

I stood up and started to pace. I hated being afraid. I hated how it made me feel weak and nervous. Stefan was my friend. I shouldn't be afraid of him. Elena was right. I had forgiven Damon after he fed from me numerous times. I couldn't forgive Stefan after he did it once? And I was afraid to hear from my mother. What if Damon was right? What if John did tell me the truth? I didn't think I could handle it if I found out she had lied to me all of this time. And then there was Damon. I could have taken him up on his offer, to let me forget. It would all be simpler, and I wouldn't have to deal with any of this. There would be no more secrets and no more lies. But I couldn't forget how he made me feel, how all of this made me feel. I didn't want to forget.

I finally got the courage and walked out of the bedroom. I went down the stairs where Elena still sat. She looked up at me and then looked away. She still looked less than happy to see me. I slid down and sat back onto the couch.

"I'm afraid." I admitted after a beat of silence. She met my gaze. "He really scared me."

"He didn't mean to." Elena said. "He wasn't himself."

"I know." I replied. "But I trusted him."

Elena looked at me confused. I swallowed.

"I trusted Stefan to never hurt me." I said. "And then he broke that trust."

Elena opened her mouth but then closed it. I knew what Damon was capable of, but seeing Stefan in that light made me fear him. In this state, I didn't trust Stefan and I was afraid of what he could do to me.

"I can't let him die." Elena said. She looked very broken, and slightly desperate. I knew the feeling. I reached forward and put my hand on her knee.

"I know." I said. "I'll talk to him."

"Really?" She asked. I nodded. We both stood up and she hugged me. I squeezed her back, trying to absorb some of her confidence. I took a deep breath before I headed down the stairs. I knew that he couldn't get out and that I would be safe, but I still felt the nervousness creep up into my heart and take hold.

I got to the cell door and peered in. He was sitting on a cot, looking very weak and glaring at the floor. I could see the bottle of animal blood lying there untouched.

"Hey Stef." I said nervously. He didn't reply. "Listen man, you have to drink that."

"No." He replied adamantly. He still didn't look up.

"I'm not upset with you Stefan." I said, although it was a lie. He must have picked up on it.

"I almost killed you Alex." He said ruefully. "I wanted to kill you."

I gulped. I wanted nothing more than to go back upstairs and let Elena and Damon handle this. But looking at his forlorn face made me stay. The guilt was eating him alive, and I was the only one who could tell him that this was ok.

"That wasn't you Stefan." I said. "Not the real you."

"Yes it was." He said finally looking up. "The blood takes over and shows the true me."

I shook my head.

"I don't believe that." I replied. "I don't believe it for a second."

"Your heart rate says different." He said. I swallowed. "You're afraid of me."

I said nothing. He was right, and I couldn't hide it from him.

"Yeah." I said. "I am."

He turned and started to glare at the wall. I sighed and leaned against the door. I didn't have enough confidence to go in, but I was going to get as close as I could.

"That wasn't you Stefan." I repeated. "And this isn't either."

"Alex I-"

"No. Listen to me." I ordered. He stayed silent. "The Stefan I know doesn't quit. He does everything he can until he makes things right. That's the Stefan I trust and the Stefan who is my friend."

He looked up at me. I forced a smile.

"I know you're sorry." I said. "And it's ok. I forgive you."

He continued to stare, trying to search my face for anything that would tell him otherwise. I continued to smile. I had forgiven him. The Stefan from last night was not the Stefan I knew. I was forgiving the good Stefan. I hoped he came back.

"Now, you have to drink that." I said and pointed to the bottle. "Otherwise your girlfriend is going to come down here and force you to do it."

Stefan cracked a small, weak smile. I smiled back and then headed back up the stairs. I was attacked with a hug as soon as I stepped out of the basement.

"Thank you." Elena whispered in my ear. I rolled my eyes, but hugged her anyway. I pulled back and started heading toward the door. "Where are you going?"

"I have to go handle my own demons." I said. She nodded to me and I walked out the door. I then headed for the direction of my house.

When I got home the light was already on. I walked up to the door and pushed it open. Mom was in the living room, drinking some coffee and eating a slice of cake. She looked up when I closed the door and swallowed hard.

"Where the hell have you been?" She asked me, using her stern mother voice. She usually didn't have to use it.

"Elena's." I lied. She put her hands on her hips.

"I haven't heard from you all day." She said. "I was worried sick."

"Sorry." I muttered. I then sat in the chair across from her. She was watching me intently, and I just glared at the floor.

"Is everything ok?" She asked me. I was about to say that everything was fine but I was tired of that. I was tired of saying everything was ok, when in fact it wasn't. I was tired of the lies, and the secrets. I was just tired.

"No." I said honestly. "No. It's not ok."

"What's the matter?" She asked, suddenly concerned. I met her hazel eyed gaze and narrowed my own. It was time now to not back down. I had to know the truth, and I had to know now. I couldn't be afraid anymore.

"Did John try to come back into my life?" I asked her. She visibly tensed at the question. She didn't speak for a long while, seeming shocked at my question.

"Who told you that?" She finally asked. I felt my heart sink.

"Does it matter?" I asked. "Is it true or not?"

She stood and started to pace. I watched her, growing more and more anxious. Obviously, she was hiding something or else she wouldn't have been acting like this. The longer she waited the more I was beginning to feel I wouldn't like her answer.

"You were 7." She said. "I had just explained to you that your dad was gone and he wasn't coming back. It was bad timing."

"But he came back." I said tears pricking my eyes. John wasn't lying. He had come back for me.

"You were so young." She said. "I couldn't just tell you that-"

"All I hear is excuses." I said. "Did he come back?"

I saw tears brimming her eyes. I had to fight the urge to comfort her. Now was not the time to show sympathy. She grabbed my arms, as if she hold me where I was.

"Yes." She answered. I felt like I had been punched in the gut. I expected John to lie to me, to hurt me. I never expected my mother to do it.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked her steadily. She gulped.

"I was trying to protect you." She said. "I didn't want him to be in your life."

I licked my suddenly dry lips.

"Did you ever think about what I wanted?" I asked her, shoving her hands off of me. "Did you ever think that maybe I should have been given that choice?"

"You were so young." She repeated. "And I didn't think that he would be a good influence on you."

I ran a hand through my hair. John came back, he came back! And she sent him away because she didn't want him in my life.

"All my life I had hated him for what he did to you." I said. "But what I should have been doing is hating you for pushing him away."

I walked past her and went to my bedroom. I grabbed my duffle bag and threw it on the bed. I started throwing random clothes into it. I heard her footsteps and her gasp when she came in.

"What are you doing?" She asked. I ignored her and continued the pack. "Stop!"

She lunged at me and grabbed my hands to stop me. I wrenched them out of her grip. I couldn't believe this. She had told me all along that he was this dirt bag who didn't deserve me. In truth, he had tried and she pushed him away. She didn't give him a chance.

"Alex listen to me." She said, grabbing my arms and making me look at her. "I didn't want him to hurt you."

"Like you did?" I asked. Tears fell off her face. "He tried to be in my life and you told him to leave."

"I didn't know if he would stay." Mom said. "If you knew him and he left that would have been harder."

"Or he could have been my dad." I said. "But you couldn't give him that chance could you?"

"I told you I was trying to protect you." She said, tears rolling down her face. I felt my bottom lip quivering. I hated doing this to her, but she had lied to me. She had said that he turned around and never looked back.

"I know." I replied. "But you shouldn't have sacrificed my relationship with him because he didn't come back for you."

I could see the pain on her face as she heard my cruel words. I grabbed my bag and put it over my shoulder, unable to look at her heartbroken face anymore. I then pushed past her and down the hall I went. I didn't say goodbye, although I was pretty sure she was still frozen in my room. I slammed the door behind me and walked away from the house.

How could she do that? I understood that she was trying to protect me, but if she had allowed John to be in my life, maybe I wouldn't have been miserable all that time. Instead she sacrificed me life because she didn't want to see him. She couldn't let me have him if she couldn't.

It wasn't long before I found myself at the Gilbert house. I knocked on the door and lo and behold he opened it.

"Alex…" John said with a grin. "What a nice surprise."

"Hi John." I replied. He eyed my bag that was over my shoulder and he furrowed his brows.

"Would you like to come in?" He asked, too hopeful for my taste. I shook my head.

"I can't stay long." I replied. "I just wanted to let you know she admitted it."

John seemed taken aback by my statement. But he knew what I was talking about. I swallowed, forcing my tears down. Regardless of what was the truth, I still didn't know this man. He still was a complete and utter stranger to me.

"But it doesn't change anything." I said shaking my head. "You're still not my dad."

His face fell a bit.

"I understand." He said. "I'm just glad you know the truth."

I nodded and turned to leave, but I stopped myself. I turned back to him, licking my suddenly dry lips.

"After she told you to stay away… why didn't you fight for me?" I asked him. He set his jaw and looked down ashamed. I waited for his answer. He could have gone to court, to get some kind of custody agreement, but he didn't. He never came back.

"I thought maybe she was right." He said, honestly. "That you would be better off if I stayed gone."

I nodded slowly and then left.

Damon was in a bad mood. He had a Gilbert invention that he didn't know what it was used for, his brother was starving himself after his stint with the human blood, and now he had gone on a wild goose chase looking for Isobel and it turned out she wasn't there.

When he got home all he wanted was a drink. He made himself one and downed it in one swallow. He could hear Stefan and Elena upstairs and they sounded sickeningly happy. Stefan must have finally gotten the balls to drink and finally be happy.

It made Damon's skin crawl.

But he didn't hear just that. He heard something else. It was a small weeping sound, something very pathetic sounding. His eyebrows knitted and he stood up. He then vamp sped up the stairs and he followed the sound. He found himself right outside of his bedroom. He wrenched the door open and he found Alex on his bed.

She was curled up into a ball, her head buried into her knees. Damon felt his stomach drop and he stepped inside. When she heard him, she looked up, her eyes red and puffy. She had tears rolling down her cheeks, staining her face. The sight was truly heartbreaking. Damon sighed and closed the door behind him.

He slipped into the bed and pulled her to his chest. She was hesitant at first, but she eventually relaxed into his embrace. She cried into his chest and he let her do it. His chin was resting on top of her head and he moved to kiss her forehead.

"It's going to be ok pretty girl." He said. "Everything's going to be ok."

She didn't speak, and she didn't have to. Damon just rubbed her back until she cried herself to sleep in his arms. He sighed contentedly. He was much happier when she was around. Maybe staying away wasn't the best decision. She needed him right now, and he would be there for her.