Summary: Completely AU. What does Damon know about Elena, really? What was she like before her parent's accident? What happened in Elena's past and why must she revisit it? It takes an impromptu road trip for them to find out. D/E.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my plot.

Atlantic City by Onriette

"If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late,

Could you say goodbye to yesterday?

Leave old picture in the past, donate every dime you have?

Would you call up friends you never see?

Reminisce old memories, would you forgive your enemies?

Would you find that one you're dreaming of?

Swear up and down to God above, that you finally fall in love,

If today was your last day."

If Today Was Your Last Day - Nickelback

Chapter 1 – Taking a Break

"Elena," he said in an annoying sing-song.

"What?" I sighed. "Have patience, Elena..." I reminded myself.

"Are we nearly there yet?" he asked. I could have screamed - it was the 5th time he had asked me that. I gripped the steering wheel, hard. "Y'know it would be helpful if I actually knew where we were going Elena," he continued to whine.

"Damon, have you never heard of surprises?" I said calmly instead.

He groaned, "I loathe them."

"Well I'm sorry Damon but you're just going to have to wait and see," I smiled tightly.

"I'm not going to let this drop Elena," he warned whilst turning his attention instead to the car radio, immediately Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen filled the air. I was already starting to regret inviting Damon on a road trip and the trip had barely even begun! I should have known that being trapped in an enclosed space with Damon Salvatore for a long period of time would not agree with me.

"So, are you still not on speaking terms with Baby Brother?"

"You know the answer to that question Damon," I spoke rigidly.

He rolled his eyes, "So what did Saint Stefan do wrong? I didn't know he was actually physically capable of making a mistake."

I sniffed, "Like you even care, Damon." I wasn't particularly in the mood to talk to anyone about this, least of all Damon. Stefan and I were on a break, we had both agreed it was for the best. I had grown tired of his constant wish to protect me from some unidentified danger 24/7. I couldn't go anywhere without him worrying that someone might try to hurt me. He was also increasingly wary of any friendship I would make with a guy, which I couldn't stand. That included my rocky amity with Damon; it was as if he thought the second he took his eyes off me I would either be kidnapped by some evil monster or fall hopelessly in love with the first man I laid eyes on! The whole thing finally came to boil when I told him I wanted to visit my grandmother's old house:

"I don't want you taking a trip," he said firmly, crossing his arms.

"Why not?" I exclaimed - it was my life, I could go if I wanted to.

"It's not safe, after everything that happened with Katherine I don't want you putting yourself in danger," Stefan frowned at me.

"Stefan, you don't understand, it important I-I have things I need to sort out there," I said reasoning.

"What things? I thought you're parents cleaned out the place years ago?" It wasn't that. I couldn't tell him, it was too... personal - even I didn't completely understand my reasons. I just knew I had to go back there. After the near death experiences I had been through it had made me think differently about life, I regretted things that I had done when I was younger, before my parents died. I realised that life could so easily be taken away from you, if I died tomorrow would I be happy with the choices I had made? The bitter feelings and the unspoken words: I didn't want to leave things like that with people.

"Just things," I said exasperated.

"Elena, please think about this logically," Stefan said sternly.

"I am thinking logically Stefan!" I exploded. "I'm going whether you like it or not!"

"Well I don't know how you're going to get there, 'cos I'm certainly not taking you and your car is totalled!" he said angrily. Shoot, I'd forgotten about that, I'd still not managed to get my car fixed since I had crashed it.

"Well maybe I'll just get Damon to take me then! We had a great time on the last road trip we took!" I was being spiteful and impulsive.

"Elena, don't be ridiculous!"

"Don't presume to tell me what I should and shouldn't do! Y'know I'm getting just a little bit sick of this overprotective boyfriend crap Stefan!"

"Well then maybe we should take a break then, seeing as you obviously have some issues you need to sort out Elena," Stefan spoke viciously. I chocked, my eyes widening – that I had not expected.

"Yeah perhaps we should," I manage to get out before leaving abruptly.

I sighed, "It's... it's between me and Stefan, Damon. But in short, we're on a break."

"Wow," Damon said, raising an eyebrow. "The Stefan and Elena love boat hits rocky waters, what is the world coming to?"

I let out a laugh, "Yeah, we're expecting the apocalypse tomorrow."

"So is this why you invited me on this little trip and not Stefan the Magnificent?" he asked me.

"Well, you're the only one who would take me," I shrugged, "And you're not the worst company in the world Damon," I added with a smirk, remembering the last time he had said those words to me.

"Oh very good, Miss Gilbert," he said with a slight smile, catching my drift. "So how much further is our mystery destination?" he asked restlessly.

I groaned, "Damon?"

"What?"

"Just... sit back and try and enjoy the ride would you?"

He sighed, "Well... I can't promise anything Elena." I had a feeling this was going to be a long journey.

TBC

A.N: I have been working on this idea in my head for a while, I'm not 100% happy about this chapter but I have edited it that many times I'm just sick to death with it, so I thought it was best to just get on with it and upload it. I know there wasn't a whole lot of stuff happening in this chapter but I needed to... set the scene I guess. I just hope I have done enough to make you all want to read on, I promise you it will get better! Please don't forget to review; I would love to know your opinion, good or bad! :)