"it was a mistake, you said. But the cruel thing was, it felt like the mistake was mine, for trusting you." - David Levithan

17. The House Guest

Damon was running his fingers softly though her hair. Their stay hadn't gone quite like he'd planned, as so far, there had been less sexy shenanigans, and more rage and betrayal induced tears from the witch.

She'd finally calmed down though, and breathed out slowly, as she pressed a soft kiss to he bonded's chest. "Sorry I've been all angry and enraged today. I know it's not exactly what you had in mind when you brought us here." She mumbled guiltily.

"Baby, I just wanted you away from them. And clearly I was right. So if what you needed to do in order to calm down was rage and scream and throw stuff, then I'm glad you got to do it."

"I just…" her breath shuddered out of her, before she continued, "Alaric looked me in the eyes, and promised he wouldn't cause me anymore pain. I straight up told him how my entire family had been killed in front of me, and he proceeded to do the same. I just feels like everyone I thought I could rely on turned their backs on me. And now, I just have you."

"Hey," he whispered softly, looking down at her with love and tenderness in his gaze, "Bonnie and Caroline had no idea, and I have a feeling they would have severely disagreed with the plan, had they been aware of it. As for my brother and his girlfriend, fuck them. They don't matter, and they never will. And I know you considered Alaric family, and I know his betrayal is the one that stings the most, but I also have feeling he instantly regretted his actions."

"It's not just that, Ace. I can't even conceive the idea of promising someone something, of looking them in the eyes and promising them, giving them my word, only to so blatantly betray them. And for what? A half-assed plan I figured out and mitigated immediately. They all decided Elena's potential safety mattered more than my well-being. They all unanimously decided that I didn't matter, that I was more dispensable than her. And I just don't know where I went wrong. What did I do to make them believe this so fully?"

"You didn't do anything, Thea." His voice had grown serious, and he quickly flipped them over, raising himself above her, ensuring she could see him as he said, "their actions have no correlation to you. You have been nothing but a great friend and protector to each and everyone of them, especially my brother and Elena, going above and beyond to ensure their safety. So their decisions? They don't reflect on you baby, they reflect on them. The reason you can't understand their actions, is because you have loyalty. Once you decide a person is a member of your pack, once you decide they're part of your family, you protect them with everything you've got."

"I thought…I thought I'd forged true friendships here. I thought I'd finally found a place where I had a family, people who cared about, who had my back as much as I did theirs, but all they do is hurt me. Why Ace?"

"Angel…" he whispered tenderly, leaning their foreheads together. "I don't know. I can't even understand their thought process, or why they'd do that, but I do know that not everyone in your life thinks that way. You still have your people. In fact," he stood up, walking towards the door with a small, smile, gesturing for her to join him. "Why don't you see for yourself?"

The girl titled hr had curiously, before complying and opening the door. Her mouth dropped when she was engulfed in familiar arms. Caroline and Bonnie's scents filling her nostrils, and tears began flowing freely from her eye again, when the two girls started apologising for the actions of everyone else.

Staring at her bonded from between their shoulders, she whispered a quiet, "Thank you," and he smiled in return, his love flowing across their bond, soothing her better than a million hugs or apologies ever could.

—

"God, I can't believe they would do this to you, especially after everything you've been through!" Exclaimed Bonnie angrily, pacing around the cabin.

The blonde nodded her agreement curls bouncing frantically with the movement, "god and Stefan planned this whole thing? I though he was the good brother! And Elena! You almost got yourself killed multiple times for her, and this is how she repays you? By killing your uncle!"

"I know," mumbled the raven-haired girl in reply, "I just…I guess I'm struggling to understand why everyone seems to believe I'm less important than her, you know? Like why is her well-being placed above mine, every single time? I mean, even from a purely strategic point of view, if we took away the fact that I'm a human person who still feels pain, I'm the blood-witch, I would think making me unhinged with grief and sadness would end badly for everyone involved."

"We don't." Replied the hazel-eyed witch. Taking a seat beside the blood-witch, she grabbed her hand tightly, repeating, "Caroline and I don't discount your feelings, and we certainly don't think Elena is more important than you. The minute Damon called and told us what happened, I wanted to give her an aneurysm. And I'm pretty sure Care was fantasising about snapping her neck." A look at the nodding blonde confirmed this theory, and bonnie chuckled, before continuing, "You're one of our best friends. In fact, you've been a better friend to the both of us than Elena has lately. You've taken all of our responsibilities on your shoulders, without complaining once, and you've been honest with us from the get-go. Hell, even when you were angry with us, you still protected us with everything you had. And I know that even now, going through all of this, you're still brainstorming ways to help Caroline with Matt, and get my powers back."

Thea shrugged bashfully, before looking at the blonde and saying, "two words: grand gesture. Think movie style gesture. Maybe it's time to show everyone how good of a singer you are, huh?" Before looking at her fellow witch and adding, "Your powers aren't gone, they're just blocked. A witch's powers are tied to her emotions, so figure out what it is that's scaring you, emotionally, and once you unravel that, everything should go back to normal." Raising her brow, she smirked slightly, "So maybe giving this thing with Jeremy a proper shot, Elena's opinion be damned, is the solution."

"See!" Laughed Bonnie, "that's exactly what I was talking about!"

"What?" She shrugged, "I can't forget about everything else that's been going on, just because my life seems to be falling apart."

"It's not gonna be forever, you know?" Interjected the blonde softly, laying her hand on Thea's shoulder. "One day, we're gonna look back, and laugh about how dramatic our lives used to be."

"Ha!" Joked the raven-haired girl sarcastically, "Sure. And I'm gonna magically get a sibling, you're gonna marry Stefan, and Bon will get over her repulsion of vampires and fall head-over-heels for one." Looking at her friend, she giggled, "The day our lives stop being a teenage supernatural show, is the day I carve my own heart out."

"Ew. Stefan. Really? Out of everyone, you had to pick Stefan!"

"He's good-looking, if you like'em broody and pouty. Oh, and have about as much integrity as a pebble, but you know, that's just me."

"He really hurt you, huh?"

Thea sighed, nodding, "yeah. I considered him one of my closest friends. Someone I could always rely on. I knew his love for Elena made him blind to certain things, I just didn't think he'd so willingly throw me away for her. I figured out of everyone, he'd understand better than most what trauma can do to a person."

Shrugging good-naturedly, she smiled, "But you know, it's alright. Eventually, he'll realise what he's been doing. Hopefully the repercussions won't hit him too hard."

Bonnie titled her head in amusement, "Well, that's a more mature response than I expected. I figured you'd be all for watching him suffer."

"He's Damon's brother. My own personal grudge aside, he'll be in pain if his brother is, so for my bonded's sake, I don't want him to hurt."

"Well, not to worry. Next time I see him, I'm snapping his neck. I also hap[pen to not like seeing my bonded in pain." Came the blue-eyed man's voice from behind them. Turning around, the blood-witch gave him a wide smile, as he grabbed her hand and pulled her out of her seat, wrapping his arms around her. Looking at the two other girls, he said, "You're both wanted back home. Apparently, everyone's been calling you, and you haven't been answering."

Standing up, Care straightened her clothes, before looking at Bonnie, "yeah well, they won't be too happy once we're back. I'm pretty sure they don't know that we're aware. Everyone seems to forget Thea's complete honesty policy, until it bites them in the ass."

"But hey, at least we can give our two cents, surprise them with our anger and all." Muttered the witch in reply. They both threw their arms around Thea, giggling as she fell back on the couch.

Standing back up, the three girls made their way to the door, where two left, and the final one stood inside the cabin, watching as their car slowly drove away. Familiar arms wrapped around her from behind, and she leaned her head against her bonded's chest with a small sight, "Thank you for this," she mumbled.

"Of course. I needed you to know that you still had people in your corner. It's not just me Angel. You've got all of us on your side. You're not alone in this." He murmured in response, turning her around.

Linking her hands behind his neck, she pulled him down to her level, laying their lips together. She couldn't. Verbalise what he meant to her, words seeming too weak for everything she felt, so she allowed him to feel it all. Let all of the love, the respect and trust she had for him flow through their bond like a tsunami.

He reciprocated in kind. His love flowing over her, caressing her skin, washing it in tingles. His hands tightened around her hips, and she jumped, wrapping her legs around his waist, never separating their lips.

Damon's hands slipped to her ass, and he began walking them backwards, until her back met the mattress, and his hands slipped beneath her shirt. Pulling away, he mumbled, "Are you sure? I don't want to—"

Breathing against his lips, she murmured, "I do. But if you don't want to, then there's no rush."

His lips landing back on hers ferociously was all the answer she required, and her shirt was raised from her body, and his hands grabbed onto her breasts, lips descending to her neck. Throwing her head back, she let his name flow out her lips like a prayer, feeling the coil in her stomach spring tight.

"Please," she mumbled slowly, gripping onto his shirt and tearing it from his body, letting her hands roam over his chest, slowly making their way to his pants, which she unbuttoned immediately.

"God, I love you," he growled against her, before removing her shorts, and slipping his fingers into her folds, caressing them softly. She could feel his lips smiling at her clear arousal, and when he began softly rubbing her clit, she moaned loudly. Her own hands wrapped around his cock in response, jerking it, before rubbing her thumb softly over the tip.

Raising her legs to his waist, she watched as he began rubbing himself against her, circling her nub slowly with his shaft, before he sunk into her with a groan.

It wasn't rough, or quick. They took their time, loving every part of each other, worshipping every inch of their bodies. When she came, he followed, whispered "I love you"s falling between them.

No separation, no boundaries. The Angel and her Ace, as one.

—

Later, she was standing in the kitchen, making a quick dinner for the both of them. She'd just hung up the phone with her uncle, still worried over his safety. But he was fine, still alive, and kicking, at any rate.

Damon was in the bedroom, checking on his phone. She could hear him talking softly, voice muffled from the walls between them, but she didn't worry. She knew if it was pertinent information, then he'd let her know as soon as he was done.

"I don't care, Stefan. You got yourself into this mess, you get yourself out of it." He said, walking towards her. Placing his phone on the table, he opened the speaker, and took a spot behind her, arms wrapping around her waist, head nuzzled into her neck.

"She's threatening Elena Damon! I need you to come back and help." Came the younger man's voice, sounding slightly tinny form the device.

"Like I said, you did this. I don't care, in fact, I hope she kills her and gets this whole mess done and over with. As far as I'm concerned, Elena's safety means nothing to me."

"You don't mean that. You know some part of you cares about her. I know you've got Thea now, but even you can't deny that you care about Elena. She looks like Katherine."

Her bonded's hold tightened on her, chest tensing against her back. Thea however, giggled slightly, finding the entire conversation wildly amusing.

"If that's the only reason you're so gung-ho on her brother, then I'd suggest finding yourself a different girlfriend. And don't push me further by doubting my love for my girl, you're skating thin-enough ice as it is. I do not give a flying fuck what happens to Elena. I could snap her neck myself, if that would prove it to you." Growled the blue-eyed vampire menacingly.

Stefan went quiet, before his voice took on a pleading tone, "Please, I'm sorry. I know you love Thea, but Elena's in danger. We did all of this to protect her, don't let it all fall apart now because you're pouting."

"We didn't do anything, you did. You took it upon yourself to protect Elena at the expense of my bonded, which means my priorities have shifted. I don't care about your girlfriend, and her pathetic human life. I care about mine, and the fact that she's heartbroken because the man she considered a father figure, as well as the one she referred to as her brother, decided her life, her wellbeing, wasn't important. So you handle Katherine yourself Stefan, and I hope she gives you hell." And with that, he shut his phone, ending the call with a disgruntled sigh.

Nuzzling into the girl, he said, "I'm so done with all of them. Let's just run away to New York and leave them all behind."

"You and I both know you couldn't bare to be away from the action for long, you'd get bored and restless." She replied with a chuckle, leaning into him.

"But I'd have you. Can't get bored when there are still so many positions we've yet to try."

Looking up at him, she asked, "Kat's giving them trouble?"

"Yeah, apparently when Elijah got stabbed, her compulsion was lifted and she was able to escape the tomb."

The witch rolled her eyes, "Idiots. Honestly, we already knew that a vampire's compulsion lifted once they died, why did they think this would be any different?"

"You know them Angel, they're not exactly geniuses."

"And yet, whoever the certifiable genius makes a recommendation, they ignore it. Honestly, it's like they want to be in danger at all time." Sighing, she continued, "Anyway, is she threatening Elena?"

"Nope. Apparently she wants to help them get rid of Klaus, but Elena doesn't want her there and she's whining."

"Again, Stefan's being idiotic. Katherine knows more than anyone what Klaus is capable of. Hell, she's met the guy. She'd be an incredible tool in this fight, but they're letting their anger and biases get in the way of that."

He dropped a soft kiss onto her skin, lips smiling into it, "Well, we can't all be master strategists like you Angel. Some of us mere mortals let our emotions get in the way sometimes."

Turning in his hold, she pouted slightly, "I'm not a master strategist, I just use my brain. In situations like these, logic overrides emotions, otherwise, bodies start dropping. But maybe that's why they all think I'm emotionless."

"Well, if that's what they're basing their beliefs on, then they really are idiots. You show more empathy and care than any of us. Just because your pain threshold is higher than Elena's, doesn't mean you don't also have your limits." Looking down at her, he questioned softly, "Have you spoken to your uncle yet? I know you were worried."

The girl nodded, "yeah, he's alright. He's gonna stay out of sight for now, until I give him the go-ahead. It's safer for them to believe they succeeded, otherwise they're going to keep trying o kill him, and probably try to take me out as well if I keep interfering."

"I'd like to see them try," he growled lowly, before adding in concern, "Are you going to be able to keep a spell of this strength going until that point? Isn't it going to drain you?"

"Nah, so long as no one touches the note, the illusion will stick. I'm pretty sure Elena's gonna try and revive him at some point to renegotiate their 'deal' and I cannot wait for her reaction once she finds out he's been alive and kicking this whole time."

Damon chuckled softly, "yeah, I doubt she'd gonna be happy."

"Her fault. She had a good deal, and she ruined it by overplaying her hand and thinking she was smarter. She isn't, so now she's gotta deal with the consequences. And those now happen to include a pissed off original."

Her phone ringing drew her attention way from Damon, and giving him a small peck, she existed the circle of his arms to find an unexpected caller. Laughing slightly, she answered, "I take it freedom's treating you well skapa?"

"Slanchitse!" Came Kat's excited voice over the phone. At that sound, Damon's brows raised in surprise, gesturing for the girl to continue her conversation.

"I heard you're on the outs with everyone here." Continued the vampire.

"Yeah well, I'm not a fan of getting betrayed or lied to, and since they all think Elena's more important, then let her solve their problems for them."

"Ugh, my doppelgänger, causing problems everywhere. What is so special about her anyway?"

"Your guess is as good as mine Kat. Give her a hard time for me, will ya?"

"Done. Take care of yourself, little witch, I'd like to see you when you're back from your romantic getaway. But I did call for a reason,"

Thea tensed slightly, sensing the urgency in her friend's voice, "What is it?" She asked quietly, preparing herself for some bad news.

"Luka, Jonas' son is dead. Stefan killed him when he thought he was helping Elijah, and now the witch is out for blood. But that's not why I'm calling, he was looking for the site of the Bennett massacre. I figured you could find out, use the information to your benefit."

"And you don't want to know, Kat? You don't want me to tell you?"

"Slanchitse, as much as I like you, you know I play for my own team. But when it comes to this, to what they did to you, I'll be on your side every time. DOn't tell me if you're worried my loyalties may be compromised because of Stefan, but do use the info. I have a feeling it's important."

Growing quiet, the girl sighed, retorting with a quiet, "thanks Kitkat. Take care of yourself, and we'll go shopping once I'm back, promise."

With that, the conversation was over. Thea looked down, mind whirring far too quickly for her mouth, as she began exploring the options presented to her.

Raising her gaze to her bonded's, she said, "There are only a couple of options as to why that site's so important, but I'm pretty sure its for its power. Slayed witches always left a mark behind, and if the myths are true, and twelve Bennett witches were killed in that spot, then that makes it a power-hub, one strong enough to fuel an entire sacrificial ritual, for example."

"You think this is where Klaus is planning to enact the ritual?"

She nodded slowly, closing her eyes and swallowing. His hands came to cup her face, before his voice asked softly, "What is it? You're so sad suddenly."

"It's just. So much has happened, and yet we're no closer to figuring out a way to stop this ritual, be it for mine or Elena's sake. All of these betrayals and lies, and yet, Klaus is still coming, and we're both still going to probably be killed."

"Nothing's going to happen to you, Angel." He murmured, pulling her face up to his. "Nothing is going to touch you, as long as I'm alive." Growing quiet, a small smirk pulled at his lips, before he added, "Except for me, that is."

Chuckling, she pulled him into a kiss, and soon enough, she found her front pressed into the cold marble of the kitchen counter, as he pounded into her from behind.

She did always keep her word, after all.

—

His cold fingers gliding over her ribs woke her up, and grumbling loudly, she hid her face in her pillow, "No, no more you monster! I'm all sexed-out for now. You've drained me!"

Damon chuckled, before she was flipped on her back, his body pressing over hers. The blood-witch inhaled sharply, feeling arousal pooling in her belly at the feeling of him, hard and long, against the juncture of her thighs.

He placed his forehead onto hers, whispering, "Liar."

She giggled, "You're gonna. Make sure I can't walk at all tomorrow, huh?"

"If it's the only way I can keep you in my arms all day, then sure, what a way to go." He replied, lips falling onto her neck.

Thea squirmed under him, before flipping him onto his back. Biting her lip smugly at the look of surprise on his face, she straddled him, as she said, "What? I like to be on top too, you know. Besides," leaning closer, she placed small kisses across his jaw as she whispered, "I distinctly remember you telling me I could have my turn before."

Her hands began gliding across his torso, nails scraping gently over his skin. Her mouth followed the path, lips trailing over the smattering of hair on his chest, tongue flicking teasingly over his nipples, watching as he began moaning low in his throat.

Looking up at him, she continued her path downwards, following his happy trail with her tongue, as her fingers glided softly down those delicious 'V-hinges' on his hips. Reaching her target, she pulled him into her mouth, as her hands cupped his balls, fondling them softly.

He was a mess, hips jerking into her mouth, hands grabbing her hair. When he tugged a little too roughly, she pressed one sneaky finger on that piece of skin under, and his movements came to a stop, as he hissed out, "Thea.."

"No pulling Ace. You move, I stop, and leave you high and dry, okay?" She stared at him, waiting for his consent for what was to follow, waiting to see if he'd be okay with giving her the reins, for now at least.

He nodded, eyes closing in bliss when she wrapped her lips around his member again, lowering herself over him, until her nose brushed his pubis, and his tip hit the back of her throat. She swallowed gently, letting her hands continue their fondling, one on his sack, the other pressing gently on the piece of skin beneath them.

She could feel him tensing, could feel the orgasm building in him, and right as he was about to erupt, she pulled away, smirking slightly at his loud groan.

"What are you doing?" He asked, eyes narrowed in her direction, muscles coiled tight, ready to spring.

The witch shrugged casually, straddling him, as she said, "i want you to come inside of me, not in my mouth." Tilting her head, she asked with a smug smile, "Got a problem with that, Ace?"

"No." He moaned, and with a smile, she sunk down, moans of her own leaving her lips at the feeling.

One of her hands held onto his thigh for stability, while the other dropped between her legs, rubbing her clit softly, as she began riding him.

"Yes, touch yourself while you ride me." He groaned, head dropping into the pillow behind him in ecstasy, eyes closing.

Thea kept going, bouncing over him, climbing higher and higher, until she felt the coil spring free. She squeezed him tightly, jerking her hips over him, milking him for all he's worth, before she felt him stilling beneath her, and her name erupted out of his mouth with a scream.

Stilling, she was pulled off of him and onto the bed, his arms wrapping around her from behind as he nuzzled into her neck. "Remind me to give you the reins more often, if that's what happens." He mumbled, voice sleepy with exertion. The girl giggled slightly, drawing one of his hands up for a kiss, "Deal, Ace."

—

Their bliss however, was interrupted when both of their phones began ringing loudly. Looking at him, she asked in a grumble, "How important do you think it is, on a scale of one to ten?"

"If they're calling the both of us, I'd say its a solid eight at least." He replied, brows scrunched as he picked up her phone, and stared at the screen. Looking at her, his demeanour became even more serious, "Stefan called you, which means it's very serious."

She pulled herself into a seated position, taking her phone into her hand and playing the voicemail the green-eyed vampire had left.

"Hey, I know I'm the last person you want to hear form, but you both need to come home. Jonas and Luka are dead, and Isobel is back. I know we did wrong by you, and I know you'd probably rather watch us all burn, but we really need you both to come back, and help."

She sighed, before looking at her bonded, "We gotta go home, huh?"

Damon nodded slowly, before pulling her in for one final kiss, "yeah, we do."