Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has favorited and followed this story so far! It just motivates me to continue on. So here you go. I wanted to include the part where Elena talks to Katherine because I think it is an important part of the story, though there are some differences with what happens. Also, Damon finally comes into the story :) Hope you all enjoy!

Elena heard feet scraping across the ground and then Katherine came into sight. She was wearing the same dress from the night of the masquerade and a layer of dirt coated her legs and hands. She was clutching the wall for support.

"Elena. What do you want?"

"I need some information Katherine."

"Why should I help you?" It was a statement laced with vehemence, but it did not affect Elena. She expected nothing less from Katherine.

"I brought you this."

Elena held up the Petrova family history. Katherine just scoffed. Elena then reached into her backpack and pulled out a bottle of blood. Katherine rushed toward Elena at the sight of the blood, but hit the invisible barrier keeping her in the tomb.

"So what is it that you want to know?" Katherine questioned.

Elena took a seat near the tomb, just far enough out of reach of danger. She poured a small amount of blood into a cup and passed it, with a stick, to Katherine.

"I want to know about Klaus."

The next couple of hours passed in a similar fashion. Elena would pass small amounts of blood to Katherine as Katherine told her the story of her life that led her on the path to Klaus.

Katherine told how she had had a child out of wedlock before she was turned and how she had been the disgrace of the family. She had then been kicked out of her homeland, Bulgaria, and took up refuge in England. Once in England, she met Klaus and was quite fascinated with him. Then she learned the truth about Klaus; what he was and the purpose she was to fulfill. Katherine ran when she found out. A vampire named Trevor saved her, but his friend would not obey. She wanted to drag Katherine back to Klaus. When Katherine tried to kill herself, Rose gave Katherine her blood to heal the wounds. And then Katherine succeeded. She killed herself and turned. Since, then she had been on the run, in fear of her life. Katherine told Elena how Klaus was vengeful and slaughtered her entire family because she ran.

"The same will happen to you Elena, if you don't give yourself over to him."

The thought made Elena shudder. She could not let her friends die like that. She wouldn't let them get hurt because of her.

"Elena?"

"Dammit Caroline."

She heard the voice on the stairs and turned around expecting to see Stefan standing there. What she was not prepared for, was to see Damon instead. This took her aback, leaving her at a loss for words.

"Don't blame Caroline, Elena." There was an edge to his voice and Elena could tell that he was angry. "What was she supposed to do? You are down here with Katherine and you made Caroline promise not to tell Stefan. So she came and found me."

"Damon so nice to see you," Katherine interjected.

"Katherine," Damon spit, focusing his gaze on Katherine and giving her a look of pure hatred. He then turned back towards Elena. "Whatever she told you, don't listen to it. She lies Elena. Nothing she says is ever the truth. You can't believe her."

"I have no reason to lie Damon," Katherine shot back.

"Oh, I get it. You were bargaining for your freedom weren't you? Well too bad Katherine because you aren't going anywhere."

"Actually Damon, you're wrong. You see, when Klaus finally shows up here in Mystic Falls, I am going to be the safest vampire in town. I'll be the one trapped in the tomb where no other vampire would dare enter, because they would be stuck down here if they did. So no Damon, I don't want out. I am happy to stay right here."

At that Damon made a low guttural growl at Katherine. He then grabbed Elena's arm and started dragging her out of the tomb.

"Come on Elena, we are leaving."

Damon had drug Elena up the steps before she could respond.

"Let go of me Damon." She pried at the fingers clutching her arm, but Damon's grip was too strong. When she tried pulling away, he tightened his grip. "Damon you are hurting me."

He stopped walking and turned to face Elena. He looked her in the eye for a moment before dropping her arm and turning to walk again. Elena did not want to test Damon, while he was like this. She was afraid of what he might do, so she continued on after him. They were at the car before long.

Elena reached the car door, resting her hand on the handle. She hesitated, opening the door.

From around the other side of the car Damon called out. "Elena get in the car." The edge was still in his voice.

The adrenaline running through her body moments before, from the confrontation with Damon, left her body. Everything Katherine had said hit Elena in that moment. Her hand slipped from the door handle as she fell to her knees.

"Elena!" In an instant he was around the car and holding Elena to prevent her from totally collapsing.

Her body began to shake as the tears flowed freely from her eyes. "It's my fault. It's all my fault Damon."

"What are you talking about Elena? What is your fault?"

"Everything that has happened is because of me. It is because I am alive. Everyone that I love is in danger because of me. It's not because you or Stefan came into town and into my life. I can't blame anyone else anymore. It is me."

He paused for a minute before responding. "Let's get you home." Damon scooped her up in his arms. He opened the passenger door and eased Elena into the seat. He then quickly got into the car and took off toward Elena's house.

The tears continued to flow. Elena stared out the window as the scenery blurred before her eyes. She could feel Damon's gaze on her, but she didn't have the strength to look at him. The feeling of helplessness and despair hung all around her.

The car stopped suddenly and Elena realized that she was home. She reached for the door handle, but Damon was already there opening the door.

"Damon…" She tried protesting when she felt his arms around her. He picked her up and she didn't try to protest again. She realized that she was too drained and weak to make it to the house by herself.

Within seconds they were through the front door, up the stairs, and standing in her bedroom. She felt the warm embrace of her bed as Damon gently laid her down.

Her eyelids were growing heavy, as she was being pulled down into sleep. When she felt Damon's arms pull away, she reached out to grab his hand.

"Don't leave," Elena mumbled before sinking down into a restless sleep.

She was running. Running through a forest. She knew that if she stopped, she would die. He was coming after her. Following her. He would not quit until he had her. She must keep going. She must push harder and faster to get away. She could feel his eyes on her. He was watching her, waiting for the moment when she would be in his grasp. Her heart was pounding, the sound filling her ears. Her legs were pushing her onward, trying to get her to safety. But there was no escape. She could not escape him. She never would. Then, she tripped and he descended on her. His arms reached out and grasped her. She screamed knowing it was all over. The last thing she heard was a whisper.

"Elena."

"Elena, wake up! Please wake up."

Elena gasped loudly, waking from her dream and her eyes shot open. She saw Damon there, standing over her, trying to wake her.

"You were dreaming Elena."

He brought his hand up to brush the hair off of her face in an attempt to soothe her. The action made Elena blush and she quickly hid her face while sitting up in bed.

"What are you doing here Damon?" she tried covering.

"Last night, before you fell asleep, you asked me to stay. Do you really not remember?"

"Oh." It was the only thing she could think to say. She did not remember asking him to stay last night. Everything else was clear in her mind, but this one detail eluded her. She looked down at her hands trying to distract herself. She waited another moment before speaking again. "I have to get ready for school Damon. I think you should go now."

"Elena…"

"What Damon?" She just wanted him gone. She didn't want to have to face him anymore, not with the way that she felt about him. Her feelings for him were growing. He had been there for her last night and he had taken care of her. It just complicated how she felt and she needed to be away from him to clear her head.

"What you did last night was incredibly stupid." This caught her attention. Elena's head snapped up in response to this and she looked him in the eyes. "It was stupid and selfish. Did you even stop to think about how your decision would affect anyone else? My brother is going to be angry when he hears about this, and I can't say that I am too pleased myself."

"Damon, this wasn't about you or Stefan! I needed to know more about Klaus and Katherine was the only one who could tell me what I needed to know."

"What if something had happened to you Elena?" His voice was rising and she could tell that his anger was mounting.

"I was fine Damon. I am not the helpless little girl that you all make me out to be."

"Yes you are Elena! You can't protect yourself. And you have no idea who you are messing with. Sure Katherine may be locked in the tomb, but what if you got just a little too close? She could kill you Elena! She is pissed off and looking for vengeance. If anything had happened to you, if you had gotten hurt, I…I don't know what I would have done…"

With that last statement, Elena pulled Damon to her, crushing her lips against his. He responded to her immediately, kissing her fiercely back. He licked at her bottom lip, seeking entrance and she eagerly granted it to him. Their tongues molded together and Damon lightly bit down on her lip causing Elena to moan into his mouth. Her hands came up, entwining in his hair, pulling him in closer to her. His hands found her lower back, pressing her hard against him so that there was no room between them and their bodies were molded to each other. Damon's hand traveled lightly up Elena's back causing her to shudder. Their lips were still locked with their tongues fighting for dominance. All of this left Elena out of breath. She pulled back slightly, breaking the kiss so that she could catch her breath.

Damon placed his hands on the bed on either side of Elena and pulled away from her slightly, sitting down on her bed. He sat there looking at her with awe and love in his eyes. She matched his look, admiring the vampire in front of her. The pair sat there for several more moments, just gazing at each other without saying a word.

"Elena?"

She heard the voice coming from her doorway, breaking her trance. Her eyes darted over to where the sound had come from. There she saw Stefan standing in the doorway, staring directly at her.

Author's Note: Did Stefan see what just happened between Damon and Elena or not? Wait and find out. I got this up a lot faster than I thought I would! So hope you liked it. I have finals coming up, so the next chapter will take longer to get up. Please review. It helps to hear what you guys think of the story so far. Tell me if you like it, or tell me if there is something that needs improvement. Hearing your feedback motivates me to continue this. Thanks!