"What the hell are you thinking Elena!" Caroline screeches so loud that Elena's sure the neighbors might have actually heard her. She rubs her temple for a minute before answering, already stressed out by this conversation.

"I'm thinking Damon is right and I need a break."

"And I'm thinking Damon cannot be trusted."

"I think she should go." Jer says before grabbing another slice of pizza. She can't help but smile, these people of hers, so predictable in their reactions.

"That is a bad idea, a very bad idea."

"And why is that? What do you think he's going to do to her Caroline?"

"This is Damon Salvatore we are talking about! What do you think he's going to try and do? He'd going to either try and seduce her or he'll leave her alone and some guy could try and kidnap her while he's with his next fling. He manipulates people to get what he wants Elena, do you want to be caught up in that?"

"That's a little dramatic, don't you think? You don't know him as well as you think Caroline."

"Neither do you Jer, you only know what he lets you know."

"Exactly, and you know none of that. Damon isn't the monster you make him out to be." Elena looks back and forth between her brother and best friend, both so head strong, and braces herself to jump in this argument between them.

"I can't believe you're sticking up for him."

"Why not? What has he ever done to hurt me or Elena? Nothing, he's been my friend, and he's always had Elena's back, so you need to back off."

"Okay guys, that's enough. Listen Care, I know he's never going to be your favorite person, but Jer is right, he's been there for us since our parents died. He's not always a jerk, okay? So I'm going to go to Aspen, and it's going to be fine."

"And what does Stefan think?"

"He's not going to care, I emailed him as soon as Damon invited me."

"You're going to go no matter what I say aren't you?"

"Yes. I need this trip. I think it actually might help with my writers block."

"Okay then, don't say I didn't warn you."

"She'll be fine Caroline."

"If you say so."

"I do."

She watches as clearly defeated Caroline fills her glass and makes her way upstairs. No matter how much she wishes that things were better between Caroline and Damon she knows it would take a miracle to make that happen.

"Damon is a dick."

"I'm well aware."

"But to the people he cares about? He'd do anything in the world for them. You are one of those people, always have been. Don't let Caroline get in your head. He's going for work, your going to write, it's really not a big deal."

"Right." I tell him as I grab my glass of wine and head up to check on Caroline, and her bedroom door is open which is a plus. She's sitting at her desk, looking down at what Elena assumes is her planner, back towards Elena. Once Jenna and Ric found out they were pregnant Elena practically had to force them out of this house and into one of their own, both of them beyond nervous to leave her and Jeremy alone, even if they were just moving into the house next door. Pregnancy did a number on Jenna's hormones, but Caroline to the rescue when Jenna was having a meltdown about not being under the same roof of us, worried that we would be lonely, Caroline informed her that with her moms boyfriend moving in it would be the perfect time for her to move out and come live with them, that she would personally keep her eye on them. And the rest is history as they say. They let Care have our parents room, she and Jer grew up in the rooms they were in and neither of them were ready to change that. And in true Caroline fashion, no pun intended, her wardrobe needed mom and dads closet. Care had always been like family, and then just like that she became family.

"Want to help me pack?"

"Only if I must." Caroline turns to Elena with a serious look on her face.

"Come on Care, why does this bother you so much? I have always been friends with Damon."

"This is different Elena."

"Why? Because we're going away?"

"Yes!"

"It's really not a big deal Caroline. Bonnie went with Damon to California a few months ago and it didn't bother you like you are letting this bother you."

"Bonnie went because she knew Enzo would be there."

"She still stayed with Damon, hung out with him."

"It's different Elena!"

"Why?"

"You don't see the way he looks at you sometimes."

"Oh please. I'm with his brother."

"Exactly the problem. Every once in while when we're all together when he thinks no one is looking, he looks at you like he's trying to memorize every detail of you." She doesn't know why this makes her gasp, and she doesn't know how Caroline came up with that crazy notion.

"That's so not true."

"It is. When Enzo was here a couple weeks ago, and we were all at the grille you laughed at something so corny that no one else thought was funny and I happen to look over at Damon, he was zoned in on you and he had this smile on his face that I've never seen before."

"Maybe that's because I'm nice to him." Is all she can say, she doesn't know what else to say, but she does feel warm inside hearing Caroline's words which makes her uncomfortable.

"He's an ass, I don't know why you're ever nice to him. But I know what I saw."

"I think you're making more out of something that isn't."

"I know I'm right."

"Can we just go pack now."

"Ugh, fine. Don't say I didn't warn you."

From what she can see out the window by baggage claim the snow is coming down pretty good so she puts on her scarf and pulls on her hat while she waits. When she looks over at Damon she sees an older lady talking to him and smiling, and then he carries her bags over to the bench for her. He catches her stare and he gives her a smirk that she knows all too well and that eyebrow thing he's perfected. She can't help but laugh as she rolls her eyes at him.

"Please tell me why we had to take a red eye?" She asks him as they make their way over to the rental desk.

"I'm not a people person Elena."

"You fly first class, and you slept like a log, how I have no idea, the turbulence when we got into Aspen was awful. I don't know why you can't fly like a normal person during the day especially when you aren't on a tight schedule."

"Someone is bitter this morning."

"Damon it's five a.m. I should be fast asleep. Never mind the fact it felt like the plane was going to fall out of the sky."

"Oh, don't be so dramatic. And it's not my fault you're weird and can't sleep on a plane."

"Ugh, Damon."

"Elenaaaa."

"Just tell me the hotel is close."

"Yes, I rented us a suite, and it's only about a half hour away."

"Perfect."

Thankfully it doesn't take Damon long to get the keys for their rental. He has her start the car while he piles their luggage into the trunk. Her mind wanders to earlier this morning. The whole wait at the airport and before he fell asleep Damon barely talked. Which isn't totally un-Damon like, he's always been a man of few words, but he hasn't joked with her, or flirted or made any sarcastic comments to her, and that is un-Damon like. She wonders if he's lonely. Not in the bedroom sense. Damon has enough women throwing themselves at him to keep his bed warm every damn night if he chose to. Him and Stefan hadn't been close for quite a while, and the only friend he really had was Enzo, who wasn't around that often. He gives her a small smile once he gets in and tells her to buckle up. She's too tired to try and talk to him now, so she'll have to save that for later.

When Elena wakes up, she panics for a second when all she can see is darkness, but then she feels around and realizes Damon must have carried her in from the car. She throws the covers back, and makes her way into the bathroom and adjusts the water, a hot shower is exactly what she needs after the long day. She can see it's still snowing outside, and decides to ask Damon if he wants to order in when she's done, she's too hungry to have to go out and find a place and wait. She throws on the first pair of sweats she finds and makes her way out to Damon. He's got the news on and dinner waiting for her.

"You read my mind. I'm starving."

"I figured you would be." She sits down across from him and takes a huge bite of the burger, and notices no pickle. "Ate it."

"What?" She says looking up with a full mouth.

"You're pickle."

"Thanks."

"I figured we'd eat in tonight and tomorrow night go out."

"Sounds good.

"I was watching the weather. It's suppose to stop snowing tonight but Wednesday night we'll probably be stuck in. They are saying a huge storm is headed this way. So maybe tomorrow you can do some shopping while I work."

"Sure. Have you heard from Stefan?"

"Nope. Mom did the other day. You?"

"Yeah, he emailed. Told me to enjoy."

"Enjoy what?"

"My trip."

"How chivalrous of him."

"You are very mad at him."

"Not."

"Are too."

"Are not."

"What are you five?"

"Are you?"

"Damon."

"Elena."

"Okay, this isn't going anywhere. So, can I see what you're shooting tomorrow?"

"You want to come?"

"Well kind of, yeah. I'd like to see you in your element, it's the only thing I've ever seen you passionate about in the whole time I've known you."

"Okay, you can come."

"Cool. So I'll go with you in the morning for a while and then I'll go do some shopping. I'm sure they have some boutiques I can check out too."

"Downtown Aspen has a bunch of stores I'm sure you'd like. Especially this hole in the wall bookstore by the coffee shop."

"Really?"

"Yep. They carry the classics too. Might even have your first book there too if memory serves me correct."

"First and only."

"Oh please. Don't be a Debbie downer. You'll get your grove back Stella."

"Gee, thanks Damon."

"You up for a movie?"

"Yeah, horror?

"Sounds good. I'll clean up you find something to rent."